Systematic distillation of status data relating to regimen compliance

ABSTRACT

Configuration technologies for cost-effectively monitoring indicia of regimen compliance or noncompliance in response to one or more indications of symptoms or actions or other data on data-bearing media or in wireless transmissions, such as implementing techniques for providing or preventing access or otherwise acting on or communicating incremental or definitive indicia of compliance or noncompliance.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of {Attorney Docket Nos.0905-004-001, 0905-004-002, 0905-004-004, 0905-004-005, and0905-004-006}, each entitled SYSTEMATIC DISTILLATION OF STATUS DATARELATING TO REGIMEN COMPLIANCE, naming Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y.Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud,John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Elizabeth A. Sweeney, and Lowell L. Wood, Jr., asinventors, filed on even date herewith, each of which is currentlyco-pending or is an application of which a currently co-pendingapplication is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication claims benefit of priority of {Attorney Docket Nos.0905-004-001, 0905-004-002, 0905-004-004, 0905-004-005, and0905-004-006}, each entitled SYSTEMATIC DISTILLATION OF STATUS DATARELATING TO REGIMEN COMPLIANCE, naming Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y.Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud,John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Elizabeth A. Sweeney, and Lowell L. Wood, Jr., asinventors, filed on even date herewith, each of which was filed withinthe twelve months preceding the filing date of the present applicationor is an application of which a currently co-pending application isentitled to the benefit of the filing date.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Configuration technologies for cost-effectively monitoring indicia ofregimen compliance or noncompliance in response to one or moreindications of symptoms or actions or other data on data-bearing media(user cards or similar articles in local interfaces, e.g.) or inwireless transmissions, and which may be classified inter alia in U.S.Class 235, Subclass 379 or 494.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of theearliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Related applications”) (e.g., claims earliestavailable priority dates for other than provisional patent applicationsor claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patentapplications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Related application(s)). All subject matter ofthe Related applications and of any and all parent, grandparent,great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related applications,including any priority claims, is incorporated herein by reference tothe extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to theeffect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicantsreference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is acontinuation, continuation-in-part, or divisional of a parentapplication. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit of Prior-Filed application, USPTOOfficial Gazette Mar. 18, 2003. The present Applicant Entity(hereinafter “Applicant”) has provided above a specific reference to theapplication(s) from which priority is being claimed as recited bystatute. Applicant understands that the statute is unambiguous in itsspecific reference language and does not require either a serial numberor any characterization, such as “continuation” or“continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S. patentapplications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicant understands thatthe USPTO's computer programs have certain data entry requirements, andhence Applicant has provided designation(s) of a relationship betweenthe present application and its parent application(s) as set forthabove, but expressly points out that such designation(s) are not to beconstrued in any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as towhether or not the present application contains any new matter inaddition to the matter of its parent application(s).

SUMMARY

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to detecting a first indication whether afirst device has been ingested in content of a signal from the firstdevice; detecting an apparent presence of or absence of a first deviceat a toilet as a second indication whether the first device has beeningested; and signaling a data distillation indicative of a regimencompliance status partly based on the first indication whether the firstdevice has been ingested in the content of the signal from the firstdevice and partly based on the apparent presence of or absence of thefirst device at the toilet as the second indication whether the firstdevice has been ingested. In addition to the foregoing, other methodaspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a partof the present disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related machines, compositions ofmatter, or manufactures of systems may include virtually any combinationpermissible under 35 U.S.C. §101 of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending uponthe design choices of the system designer.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to circuitry for detecting a firstindication whether a first device has been ingested in content of asignal from the first device; circuitry for detecting an apparentpresence of or absence of a first device at a toilet as a secondindication whether the first device has been ingested; and circuitry forsignaling a data distillation indicative of a regimen compliance statuspartly based on the first indication whether the first device has beeningested in the content of the signal from the first device and partlybased on the apparent presence of or absence of the first device at thetoilet as the second indication whether the first device has beeningested. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

An embodiment provides an article of manufacture including a computerprogram product. In one implementation, the article of manufactureincludes but is not limited to a signal-bearing medium configured by oneor more instructions related to detecting a first indication whether afirst device has been ingested in content of a signal from the firstdevice; detecting an apparent presence of or absence of a first deviceat a toilet as a second indication whether the first device has beeningested; and signaling a data distillation indicative of a regimencompliance status partly based on the first indication whether the firstdevice has been ingested in the content of the signal from the firstdevice and partly based on the apparent presence of or absence of thefirst device at the toilet as the second indication whether the firstdevice has been ingested. In addition to the foregoing, other computerprogram product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and textforming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to a computing device and instructions. Theinstructions when executed on the computing device configure thecomputing device for detecting a first indication whether a first devicehas been ingested in content of a signal from the first device;detecting an apparent presence of or absence of a first device at atoilet as a second indication whether the first device has beeningested; and signaling a data distillation indicative of a regimencompliance status partly based on the first indication whether the firstdevice has been ingested in the content of the signal from the firstdevice and partly based on the apparent presence of or absence of thefirst device at the toilet as the second indication whether the firstdevice has been ingested. In addition to the foregoing, other systemaspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a partof the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to determining whether a presence of awireless signal in a first frequency range below a threshold frequencyoccurred contemporaneously with an absence of a wireless signal in asecond frequency range above the threshold frequency and indicating aregimen compliance status of a subject in response to the circuitry fordetermining whether a presence of a wireless signal in a first frequencyrange below a threshold frequency occurred contemporaneously with anabsence of a wireless signal in a second frequency range above thethreshold frequency. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspectsare described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related machines, compositions ofmatter, or manufactures of systems may include virtually any combinationpermissible under 35 U.S.C. §101 of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending uponthe design choices of the system designer.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to circuitry for determining whether apresence of a wireless signal in a first frequency range below athreshold frequency occurred contemporaneously with an absence of awireless signal in a second frequency range above the thresholdfrequency and circuitry for indicating a regimen compliance status of asubject in response to the circuitry for determining whether a presenceof a wireless signal in a first frequency range below a thresholdfrequency occurred contemporaneously with an absence of a wirelesssignal in a second frequency range above the threshold frequency. Inaddition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides an article of manufacture including a computerprogram product. In one implementation, the article of manufactureincludes but is not limited to a signal-bearing medium configured by oneor more instructions related to determining whether a presence of awireless signal in a first frequency range below a threshold frequencyoccurred contemporaneously with an absence of a wireless signal in asecond frequency range above the threshold frequency and indicating aregimen compliance status of a subject in response to the circuitry fordetermining whether a presence of a wireless signal in a first frequencyrange below a threshold frequency occurred contemporaneously with anabsence of a wireless signal in a second frequency range above thethreshold frequency. In addition to the foregoing, other computerprogram product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and textforming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to a computing device and instructions. Theinstructions when executed on the computing device configure thecomputing device for determining whether a presence of a wireless signalin a first frequency range below a threshold frequency occurredcontemporaneously with an absence of a wireless signal in a secondfrequency range above the threshold frequency and indicating a regimencompliance status of a subject in response to the circuitry fordetermining whether a presence of a wireless signal in a first frequencyrange below a threshold frequency occurred contemporaneously with anabsence of a wireless signal in a second frequency range above thethreshold frequency. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspectsare described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to generating a device-detectable wirelesstransmission and causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ devicein response to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related machines, compositions ofmatter, or manufactures of systems may include virtually any combinationpermissible under 35 U.S.C. §101 of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending uponthe design choices of the system designer.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to circuitry for generating adevice-detectable wireless transmission and circuitry for causing thewireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wirelesstransmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material. Inaddition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides an article of manufacture including a computerprogram product. In one implementation, the article of manufactureincludes but is not limited to a signal-bearing medium configured by oneor more instructions related to generating a device-detectable wirelesstransmission and causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ devicein response to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial. In addition to the foregoing, other computer program productaspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a partof the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to a computing device and instructions. Theinstructions when executed on the computing device configure thecomputing device for generating a device-detectable wirelesstransmission and causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ devicein response to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to obtaining first data indicating that atleast a portion of a container moved, the first data signaling that atherapeutic material has been administered to a portion of a subject andsignaling second data corroborating or contraindicating that thetherapeutic material has been administered to the portion of the subjectresponsive to the first data indicating that at least the portion of thecontainer moved. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related machines, compositions ofmatter, or manufactures of systems may include virtually any combinationpermissible under 35 U.S.C. §101 of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending uponthe design choices of the system designer.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to circuitry for obtaining first dataindicating that at least a portion of a container moved, the first datasignaling that a therapeutic material has been administered to a portionof a subject and circuitry for signaling second data corroborating orcontraindicating that the therapeutic material has been administered tothe portion of the subject responsive to the first data indicating thatat least the portion of the container moved. In addition to theforegoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings,and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides an article of manufacture including a computerprogram product. In one implementation, the article of manufactureincludes but is not limited to a signal-bearing medium configured by oneor more instructions related to obtaining first data indicating that atleast a portion of a container moved, the first data signaling that atherapeutic material has been administered to a portion of a subject andsignaling second data corroborating or contraindicating that thetherapeutic material has been administered to the portion of the subjectresponsive to the first data indicating that at least the portion of thecontainer moved. In addition to the foregoing, other computer programproduct aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forminga part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to a computing device and instructions. Theinstructions when executed on the computing device configure thecomputing device for obtaining first data indicating that at least aportion of a container moved, the first data signaling that atherapeutic material has been administered to a portion of a subject andsignaling second data corroborating or contraindicating that thetherapeutic material has been administered to the portion of the subjectresponsive to the first data indicating that at least the portion of thecontainer moved. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to obtaining an indication whether a vesselhas been ingested by a subject and signaling a decision whether toactuate a mechanical component outside the subject responsive to theindication whether the vessel has been ingested by the subject. Inaddition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related machines, compositions ofmatter, or manufactures of systems may include virtually any combinationpermissible under 35 U.S.C. §101 of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending uponthe design choices of the system designer.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to circuitry for obtaining an indicationwhether a vessel has been ingested by a subject and circuitry forsignaling a decision whether to actuate a mechanical component outsidethe subject responsive to the indication whether the vessel has beeningested by the subject. In addition to the foregoing, other systemaspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a partof the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides an article of manufacture including a computerprogram product. In one implementation, the article of manufactureincludes but is not limited to a signal-bearing medium configured by oneor more instructions related to obtaining an indication whether a vesselhas been ingested by a subject and signaling a decision whether toactuate a mechanical component outside the subject responsive to theindication whether the vessel has been ingested by the subject. Inaddition to the foregoing, other computer program product aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to a computing device and instructions. Theinstructions when executed on the computing device configure thecomputing device for obtaining an indication whether a vessel has beeningested by a subject and signaling a decision whether to actuate amechanical component outside the subject responsive to the indicationwhether the vessel has been ingested by the subject. In addition to theforegoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings,and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to deciding whether to obtain one or moreimages of a region responsively to whether a wireless signal has beenreceived from a device in the region and signaling a data distillationindicative of a regimen compliance status responsively to whether thewireless signal has been received from the device in the region. Inaddition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related machines, compositions ofmatter, or manufactures of systems may include virtually any combinationpermissible under 35 U.S.C. §101 of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending uponthe design choices of the system designer.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to circuitry for deciding whether to obtainone or more images of a region responsively to whether a wireless signalhas been received from a device in the region and circuitry forsignaling a data distillation indicative of a regimen compliance statusresponsively to whether the wireless signal has been received from thedevice in the region. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspectsare described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

An embodiment provides an article of manufacture including a computerprogram product. In one implementation, the article of manufactureincludes but is not limited to a signal-bearing medium configured by oneor more instructions related to deciding whether to obtain one or moreimages of a region responsively to whether a wireless signal has beenreceived from a device in the region and signaling a data distillationindicative of a regimen compliance status responsively to whether thewireless signal has been received from the device in the region. Inaddition to the foregoing, other computer program product aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to a computing device and instructions. Theinstructions when executed on the computing device configure thecomputing device for deciding whether to obtain one or more images of aregion responsively to whether a wireless signal has been received froma device in the region and signaling a data distillation indicative of aregimen compliance status responsively to whether the wireless signalhas been received from the device in the region. In addition to theforegoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings,and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In some variants, implementations described herein may apply in one ormore contexts of treating communicable disease (tuberculosis, e.g.) orof neurological, psychiatric, psychological, or physiological regimens(including one or more anti-addiction, anti-psychotic, or otherpsychoactive therapeutic components, e.g.). Such regimens may likewiseinclude various therapy (pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, physical, orsleep therapy, e.g.) or access management or selective notifications orother responsive protocols described herein. Such implementations mayalso occur in one or more contexts of brain/mind system pathologies,therapies, and related monitoring or management thereof. In somecontexts, such monitoring may include messages or other signalsdistilled into signals for invoking one or more mechanisms or notifyingthird parties (insurance providers or employers or consultants, e.g.) orby invoking other suitable responses as described herein (via a separatenetwork, e.g.).

In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system and/orprogram product aspects are set forth and described in the teachingssuch as text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawingsof the present disclosure. The foregoing is a summary and thus maycontain simplifications, generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissionsof detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatthe summary is illustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any waylimiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/orprocesses and/or other subject matter described herein will becomeapparent in the teachings set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary environment in which one or moretechnologies may be implemented in one or more application modules orother products.

FIG. 2 depicts a context for introducing one or more processes, systems,or other articles described herein.

FIG. 3 depicts a network having wireless signal paths or other suitablelinkages providing access among several parties.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary environment in which one or moretechnologies may be implemented in one or more vessels or datadistillation units.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a data-handlingmedium.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a data-handling unit.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a linking module.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a commode.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary environment featuring an ingestible capsule.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a vessel in or on asubject.

FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a vessel operable fordispensing a material.

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a vessel operable forwireless communication.

FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a device that can bedetected by another device.

FIG. 14 depicts a high-level logic flow of an operational processdescribed with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 15 depicts a high-level logic flow of an operational processdescribed with reference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 16 depicts a high-level logic flow of an operational processdescribed with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 17 depicts a high-level logic flow of an operational processdescribed with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 18 depicts a high-level logic flow of an operational processdescribed with reference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 19 depicts a high-level logic flow of an operational processdescribed with reference to FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a response module.

FIG. 21 depicts an exemplary environment featuring an event/conditiondetection unit.

FIG. 22 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a response module.

FIG. 23 depicts a frequency-domain energy distribution.

FIG. 24 depicts an exemplary environment featuring a device-detectableproduct in a region of interest.

FIG. 25 depicts another context for introducing one or more processes,systems, or other articles described herein.

FIG. 26 depicts variants of flows shown in one or more of FIGS. 14-19.

FIG. 27-30 each depicts additional variants of earlier-presented flows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspectsof systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardwareand software can become significant) a design choice representing costvs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciatethat there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/orother technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware,software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will varywith the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or othertechnologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determinesthat speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibilityis paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly softwareimplementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt forsome combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, thereare several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devicesand/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none ofwhich is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to beutilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehiclewill be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, orpredictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilledin the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations willtypically employ optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

In some implementations described herein, logic and similarimplementations may include software or other control structuressuitable to operation. Electronic circuitry, for example, may manifestone or more paths of electrical current constructed and arranged toimplement various logic functions as described herein. In someimplementations, one or more media are configured to bear adevice-detectable implementation if such media hold or transmit aspecial-purpose device instruction set operable to perform as describedherein. In some variants, for example, this may manifest as an update orother modification of existing software or firmware, or of gate arraysor other programmable hardware, such as by performing a reception of ora transmission of one or more instructions in relation to one or moreoperations described herein. Alternatively or additionally, in somevariants, an implementation may include special-purpose hardware,software, firmware components, and/or general-purpose componentsexecuting or otherwise invoking special-purpose components.Specifications or other implementations may be transmitted by one ormore instances of tangible transmission media as described herein,optionally by packet transmission or otherwise by passing throughdistributed media at various times.

Alternatively or additionally, implementations may include executing aspecial-purpose instruction sequence or otherwise invoking circuitry forenabling, triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing oneor more occurrences of any functional operations described below. Insome variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may beexpressed directly as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked asan executable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example, C++or other code sequences can be compiled directly or otherwiseimplemented in high-level descriptor languages (e.g., alogic-synthesizable language, a hardware description language, ahardware design simulation, and/or other such similar mode(s) ofexpression). Alternatively or additionally, some or all of the logicalexpression may be manifested as a Verilog-type hardware description orother circuitry model before physical implementation in hardware,especially for basic operations or timing-critical applications. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize how to obtain, configure, and optimizesuitable transmission or computational elements, material supplies,actuators, or other common structures in light of these teachings.

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious embodiments described herein can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by various types of electro-mechanical systemshaving a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software,firmware, and/or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range ofcomponents that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigidbodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magneticallyactuated devices, and/or virtually any combination thereof.Consequently, as used herein “electro-mechanical system” includes, butis not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with atransducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a MicroElectro Mechanical System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having atleast one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory(e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitryforming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch,optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art willalso appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include butare not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medicaldevices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems,factory automation systems, security systems, and/orcommunication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat electro-mechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to asystem that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except ascontext may dictate otherwise.

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will also recognize thatthe various aspects described herein which can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composedof various types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein“electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by acomputer program which at least partially carries out processes and/ordevices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computerprogram which at least partially carries out processes and/or devicesdescribed herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g.,forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/orelectrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem,communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those havingskill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described hereinmay be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combinationthereof.

Those skilled in the art will further recognize that at least a portionof the devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated intoan image processing system. A typical image processing system maygenerally include one or more of a system unit housing, a video displaydevice, memory such as volatile or non-volatile memory, processors suchas microprocessors or digital signal processors, computational entitiessuch as operating systems, drivers, applications programs, one or moreinteraction devices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna,etc.), control systems including feedback loops and control motors(e.g., feedback for sensing lens position and/or velocity; controlmotors for moving/distorting lenses to give desired focuses). An imageprocessing system may be implemented utilizing suitable commerciallyavailable components, such as those typically found in digital stillsystems and/or digital motion systems.

Those skilled in the art will likewise recognize that at least some ofthe devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into adata processing system. Those having skill in the art will recognizethat a data processing system generally includes one or more of a systemunit housing, a video display device, memory such as volatile ornon-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors or digitalsignal processors, computational entities such as operating systems,drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one ormore interaction devices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna,etc.), and/or control systems including feedback loops and controlmotors (e.g., feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; controlmotors for moving and/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A dataprocessing system may be implemented utilizing suitable commerciallyavailable components, such as those typically found in datacomputing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a system 100 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented. An application module 110 isoperable to receive information from (and in some variants to interactwith) one or more instances of a product 150 (a patch 163, station,pillbox, dispenser 170, capsule, or other such vessel 160 containing oneor more operational modules 162 (software or circuitry, e.g.) asdescribed below. Application module 110 may include one or moreinstances of device-executable code 101, 102, 103, 104 executable by oneor more processors 115 or control modules 117. In some variants,application module 110 may include a sample tester 119 or may implementa security protocol 120 that applies one or more criteria 121, 122 indeciding whether to open, close, engage, disengage, or otherwise actuateone or more doors 131, locks 132, motors 133, or other mechanicalcomponents 130. In some contexts, for example, such operations mayinvolve controlling one or more switches 145 (transistors 146 or relays147 operably coupled with such mechanical components 130, e.g.) or othercontrol elements 140. Alternatively or additionally, code 101-104 mayinclude one or more instructions for transmitting one or more queries orother interrogation signals 141 or awaiting or otherwise responding toone or more reply signals 142 or other incoming messages, images 143,144, or other data as described below.

Alternatively or additionally, product 150 may include one or moredetection units 180 comprising one or more sensors 179 or antennas 175,185 or other output devices 176 or input devices 178 that cancommunicate or transition between respective states 173 as describedbelow. In some variants a patch 163, capsule or other health-relatedproduct 150 may further include one or more bioactive materials 184 orother therapeutic components 181. Product 150 may likewise include oneor more powered components (sensors 187 or interfaces 189 in aperipheral unit 190, e.g.) powered by a micro-battery 182 and operablefor taking or communicating one or more measurements 183 as describedbelow.

With reference now to FIG. 2, shown is an example of a system that mayserve as a context for introducing one or more processes, systems orother articles described herein. Primary system 200 may include one ormore instances of data outputs 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256 or otherimplementations 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 of machines, articles ofmanufacture, or compositions of matter that include circuitry or otherlogic as described herein. In some contexts, implementations 201-206 maybe held or transmitted by interfaces 270, conduits 286, storage devices287, memories 288, other holding devices 289, or other circuitry forhandling data or software as described herein. In various embodiments,one or more instances of implementation components 210, 211, 212, 213,214, 215, 216, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226 or implementation outputdata 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242 may eachbe expressed within any aspect or combination of software, firmware, orhardware as signals, data, designs, logic, instructions, or the like.The interface(s) 270 may include one or more instances of lenses 271,transmitters 272, receivers 273, integrated circuits 274, antennas 275,output devices 276, reflectors 277, or input devices 278 for handlingdata or communicating with local users or with network 290 via linkage250, for example. Several variants of primary system 200 are describedbelow with reference to one or more instances of repeaters 291,communication satellites 293, servers 294, processors 295, routers 297,or other elements of network 290.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that some list items may alsofunction as other list items. In the above-listed types of media, forexample, some instances of interface(s) 270 may include conduits 286, ormay also function as storage devices that are also holding devices 289.One or more transmitters 272 may likewise include input devices orbidirectional user interfaces, in many implementations of interface(s)270. Each such listed term should not be narrowed by any implicationfrom other terms in the same list but should instead be understood inits broadest reasonable interpretation as understood by those skilled inthe art.

With reference now to FIG. 3, shown is an example of a network 340 andseveral linkages 306, 326, 356, 376 through which mutually remoteservice providers 310, technicians 361, and recipients 322 can interact.In some variants one or more control units 305, delivery units 325,response units 355, or interaction units 375 may each comprise a tabletcomputer, handheld device, wearable communication device, portabledigital device, or workstation. In some contexts one or more technicians361 or other agents 362 may each have a response unit 355 as describedbelow. In general one or more subjects 382 may be remote from a serviceprovider 310, technician 361, or agent 362 but available locally to oneor more pharmacists or other material providers 381 or to one or morenurses, parents, or other care providers 383 (via one or moreapplication modules 110, products 150, or other interaction units 375 asshown, e.g.).

With reference now to FIG. 4, shown is an example of a system 400 havingone or more distillation units 460 configured to monitor or interactwith one or more vessels 490. Instances of distillation unit 460 may beimplemented in application module 110, product 150, primary system 200,or one or more networks 290, 340 as described herein. Distillation unit460 may include various distillation modules 430 configured to handlevarious raw data 410 (auditory data 421, temperature sensor data 422,chemical sensor data 423, image data 424, or other data 425, 426 asdescribed below, e.g.). One or more auditory data distillation modules431, for example, may be configured to recognize or otherwise distillspecific event indications 440 (spoken words or swallowing sounds 441,e.g.) from raw auditory data 421. One or more other data distillationmodules 432, 433 may likewise be configured to recognize or otherwisedistill one or more other specific event indications 440 (thermaltransitions 442 or chemical transitions 443, e.g.) from raw measurementdata (temperature sensor data 422 or chemical sensor data 423, e.g.).One or more image processing data distillation modules 434 may likewisebe configured to recognize or otherwise distill pointer data 444(identifying a portion of a clip or image depicting a person, device, orother visible entity that is or was in a vicinity of a camera, e.g.) orother specific event indications 440 from raw image data 424. One ormore other data distillation modules 435, 436 may likewise be configuredto recognize or otherwise distill other event indications 440(indications of ingestion 445 or device presence, e.g.) from other rawdata 425, 426.

In some contexts, one or more such event indications 440 may constituteactionable data distillations 450 (summary data 446 or determinations447 that trigger a modification of configurable components 493 in avessel 490, e.g.). Also in some contexts a capsule 491 or other vessel490 may include one or more passive wireless transponders 492 orconfigurable components 493 (software modules or field-programmablefeatures, e.g.) as described below. Alternatively or additionally, oneor more processors 470 may be configured to apply one or more additionalfilters 471, 472, 473 to such distillations. In some contexts, forexample, filter 473 may invoke one or more evaluation request protocols482 or systematic archiving protocols 485 (including one or morehuman-executable or device-executable instructions 478 or other suitablecontent 475 in one or more messages 483 or records 488, e.g.).

With reference now to FIG. 5, shown is an example of a system 500 havingone or more media 550 suitable for inclusion in one or more responseunits 355, interaction units 375, distillation units 460, orimplementations 201-206 as described herein. In some contexts data 530may include one or more components of a prescribed or actual healthregimen: antiviral material components 522 or other antibiotic materialcomponents 523, nitric-oxide-donor material components 525,antihypertensive material components 531, statin-containing materialcomponents 532, nutraceutical-containing material components 533 orother material components 534, biometric data 536 (one or more priormeasurements 553 or current measurements 554, e.g.), or timing data 537,538, 539. In some contexts, moreover, a regimen that includes such atherapeutic component 181 will likewise include one or more modules 162targeting a corresponding symptom to be monitored. For a subject 382 whohas been prescribed an antihypertensive material component 531, forexample, such monitoring may include asking the subject 382 or careprovider 383 whether one or more of severe headache, slurred speech,nosebleed, ringing in the ear, extreme dizziness, blurred vision, orother such symptoms (measured or otherwise) associated with such atherapeutic component 181 have persisted. To facilitate such complianceand other monitoring, medium 550 may include one or more protocols 511,512 (in one or more logic modules 510, e.g.); thresholds 561, 562, 563,564, 565; indications 571, 572, 573, 574, 575; or identifiers 581, 582as described below. This can occur, for example, in a context in whichone or more application modules 110, products 150, or primary systems200 include or otherwise interact with one or more instances of media550 (via one or more networks 290, 340, e.g.) or in which one or moreinstances of conduits 286, storage devices 287, memories 288, or othermedia 550 occurs in one or more component(s) of 210-216 or 221-226described herein.

With reference now to FIG. 6, shown is an example of a system 600comprising a data handling unit 610 suitable for inclusion in one ormore implementations 201-206 or distillation units 460 described herein.Application-specific hardware or software therein, for example, mayimplement one or more evaluation criteria 611, 612, 613, 614 or otherdata distillation criteria 621, 622, 623, 624, 625 capable of generatingone or more samplings 671, 672, 673, 674, 675; pointers 676, 677, 678,679; regimen compliance determinations 686 or other compliance-positiveindications 687; regimen noncompliance determinations 688 or othercompliance-negative indications 689; or other such data distillations690. In some contexts, for example, such distillations may result fromprocessor 655 applying one or more distillation protocols 657, 658 toprocess or produce one or more images 631, 632, 633, 634; clips 641,642, 643, 644; measurements 664, 665, 666, 667; data 651, 652, 653, 654.Components 661, 662 of such data 660 may (optionally) be expressed asone or more sequences 693, data plots 694, data series 695, or otherwisein a memory 692 or on another storage medium 691 as described herein.

With reference now to FIG. 7, shown is an example of a linking module790 that can be used to facilitate one or more operations describedbelow (with reference to FIG. 14-19 or 26-30, e.g.) in relation to oneor more application modules 110, products 150, interaction units 375,data handling units 610, or other implementations described above. Insome contexts, operational modes of such components may depend upon oneor more ages 751, ethnicities 752, area codes 753 or other geographicindications, compliance status indications 769, or other suchdeterminants 760. In some contexts, for example, a shortage of bandwidthor memory 692 may constitute a low-prolixity-indicative determinant 768so that several components of summary data 446 are transmitted orretained and corresponding raw data 410 is discarded. Alternatively oradditionally, one or more individuals or devices can generate alow-prolixity-indicative determinant 768, such as a request can fromtechnician 361 to receive a sampling, sum, abridgement, or othermore-concise distillation of available raw data 410 or a report of priorfailures in transmitting such raw data via linking module 790.Conversely a systematic archiving protocol 485 may be configured torespond to a high-prolixity-indicative determinant 767 (an abundance ofbandwidth or memory 692, a compliance-negative indication 689, orreports of successful transmission, e.g.) by retaining and annotatingseveral components of raw data 410 (using one or more pointers 679 toidentify most-relevant components, e.g.) during archiving. For suchimplementations linking module 790 may likewise include one or morethresholds 771, protocol identifiers 774, 775, or other parameters 777accessible to one or more invocation modules 780 (configured to invokecircuitry as described below, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally,linking module 790 may bear expressions (device-executable code orparameters thereof, e.g.) of one or more regimens 781, 782 or otherdeterminants 785, 786; configuration modules 795; or other components796 described herein.

In some variants, one or more application modules 110, data handlingunits 610, or linking modules 790 may include or otherwise interact withone or more components 210-216 as described herein. Alternatively oradditionally, such components may likewise include or interact with oneor more products 150, interaction units 375, or distillation units 460as described herein. This can occur, for example, in a context in whichsuch components 210-216 communicate with one or more complementarycomponents 221-226 within primary system 200 or in or via a network 290,340 as described herein.

Several variants described herein refer to device-detectable“implementations” such as one or more instances of computer-readablecode, transistor or latch connectivity layouts or other geometricexpressions of logical elements, firmware or software expressions oftransfer functions implementing computational specifications, digitalexpressions of truth tables, or the like. Such instances can, in someimplementations, include source code or other human-readable portions.Alternatively or additionally, functions of implementations describedherein may constitute one or more device-detectable outputs such asdecisions, manifestations, side effects, results, coding or otherexpressions, displayable images, data files, data associations,statistical correlations, streaming signals, intensity levels,frequencies or other measurable attributes, packets or other encodedexpressions, or the like from invoking or monitoring the implementationas described herein.

Some descriptions herein refer to a human or other subject “ingesting” adevice. Such devices may include cameras, transmitters, caplets,recording components, surgical instruments, sensors, or other sucharticles configured to perform diagnostic, therapeutic, monitoring, orother communication functions after passing into or through a stomach.

Some descriptions herein refer to an “apparent presence” or “apparentabsence” of a device. Such presence may manifest as one or more thermal,auditory, chemical, magnetic, optical, proximal, or other suchattributes (selectively) characteristic of the region that can bedetected by the device. Alternatively or additionally, such presence orabsence may (optionally) be detectable by a sensor or other apparatuscapable of detecting the device when the device is within a detectionrange of the apparatus.

In some embodiments, a material is “therapeutic” if it contains one ormore medications or other components having a purpose or effect ofrelieving symptoms, reducing health risks, or otherwise promoting thesubject's health. A treatment regimen may comprise one or moreconditional or other “therapeutic material dispensations” and/or otheraspects of treatment.

In some embodiments, a “state” of a component may comprise “available”or some other such state-descriptive labels, an event count or othersuch memory values, a partial depletion or other such physical propertyof a supply device, a voltage, or any other such conditions orattributes that may change between two or more possible valuesirrespective of device location. Such states may be received directly asa measurement or other detection, in some variants, and/or may beinferred from a component's behavior over time. A distributed or othercomposite system may comprise vector-valued device states, moreover,which may affect dispensations or departures in various ways asexemplified herein.

“Apparent,” “selective,” “conditional,” “indicative,” “normal,”“compliant,” “present,” “coincident,” “related,” “biological,” “partly,”“responsive,” “distilled,” “useless,” “remote,” “in a vicinity,” orother such descriptors herein are used in their normal yes-or-no sense,not as terms of degree, unless context dictates otherwise. In light ofthe present disclosure those skilled in the art will understand fromcontext what is meant by “vicinity,” by being “in” or “at” a detectionregion, by “remote,” and by other such positional descriptors usedherein. “For” is not used to articulate a mere intended purpose inphrases like “circuitry for” or “instruction for,” moreover, but is usednormally, in descriptively identifying special purpose circuitry orcode. A “status” of one or more individuals may be vector-valued in someinstances, such as if it combines two or more of (a) “compliant withmedical regimen,” (b) “compliant with exercise regimen,” (c) “88kilograms,” (d) “late for the dosage time,” or (e) “pregnant.”

Some descriptions herein refer to a “data distillation.” Suchdistillations can include an average, estimate, range, or othercomputation at least partly distilling a set of data. They can likewiseinclude an indexing, sorting, summarization, distributed sampling, orother process having a purpose or effect of showing some aspect of thedata more concisely or effectively than a conventional display orarchiving of the entire data. Selecting a last portion of a data set canconstitute a distillation, for example, in a context in which the data'sutility apparently increases (medians or other cumulative computations,e.g.). In some variants, a data distillation “indicative of a regimencompliance status” may include one or more optical or other imagesshowing an individual doing something, or showing that something hasapparently been done or has apparently not been done that is required,for example, by a research or therapeutic regimen. If a physician hasdefined a regimen that includes a daily dose of an antihypertensivematerial component 531, for example, an indication that a dispenser 170that contains such medication has not moved for a week is indicative ofa regimen compliance status. So is a daily blood pressure measurement oran indication that the patient's prescription has been filled on time.Removing duplicative data or indexing available data are useful ways of“distilling” data so that it becomes manageable even while retainingsome of its meaning. Those skilled in the art will recognize many usefulmodes of distilling data in light of the state of the art and ofteachings herein.

In some embodiments, “signaling” something can include identifying,contacting, requesting, selecting, or indicating the thing. In somecases a signaled thing is susceptible to fewer than all of theseaspects, of course, such as a task definition that cannot be“contacted.”

In some embodiments, “status indicative” data can reflect a trend orother time-dependent phenomenon indicating some aspect of a subject'scondition. Alternatively or additionally, a status indicative data setcan include portions that have no bearing upon such status. Althoughsome types of distillations can require authority or substantialexpertise (e.g. making a final decision upon a risky procedure or othercourse of treatment), many other types of distillations can readily beimplemented without undue experimentation in light of teachings herein.

In some embodiments, one or more applicable “criteria” can includemaxima or other comparison values applied to durations, counts, lengths,widths, frequencies, signal magnitudes or phases, digital values, orother aspects of data characterization. In some contexts, such criteriacan be applied by determining when or how often a recognizable patterncan be found: a text string, a quantity, a cough-like sound, anarrhythmia, a visible dilation, a failure to respond, a non-change, anallergic response, a symptom relating to an apparent condition of theuser, or the like.

In some embodiments, “causing” events can include triggering, producingor otherwise directly or indirectly bringing the events to pass. Thiscan include causing the events remotely, concurrently, partially, orotherwise as a “cause in fact,” whether or not a more immediate causealso exists.

Some descriptions herein refer to a first event or condition having“coincided” with a second event or condition. As used herein, two eventsor conditions “coincide” if they are spatially coextensive oroverlapping (between two devices, e.g.) and if they are roughlycontemporaneous (within a few hours, e.g.).

Some descriptions herein refer to a “regimen” with which a subject mayor may not “comply.” Such regimens may include one or more monitoring orreporting components, ingestion or other administration components,devices or device interactions, acts of omission, actions performed by adevice or parties, nutraceutical or other material components, acts thatcontribute toward a positive or negative accumulation defined in theregimen, or other such components that may be prescribed, discouraged,or otherwise specified.

Some descriptions herein refer to “subjects” or “individuals.” Suchentities may include patients, market or survey participants,subpopulations defined by one or more demographic attributes, inmates,children, livestock, subscribers, or other beings whose behavior orwell-being is of interest.

Some descriptions herein refer to an “indication whether” an event hasoccurred. An indication is “positive” if it indicates that the event hasoccurred, irrespective of its numerical sign or lack thereof. Whetherpositive or negative, such indications may be weak (i.e. slightlyprobative), definitive, or many levels in between. In some cases the“indication” may include a portion that is indeterminate, such as anirrelevant portion of a useful photograph. The event may becontemporaneous or significantly before the event, in some contexts, andthe indication may be explicit or implicit. An indication whether adevice has been ingested by an individual, for example, may include pastor present measurements (of pH or electrical conductivity, e.g.), audioor video data recorded in a vicinity of the individual or the device,control or sensor signals indicative of scheduled or detected dispenseractuation, relevant raw data from which such an event might later beinferred, or an explicit message that says “the device has beeningested.”

Some descriptions herein refer to data indicating that “a portion of acontainer moved” or that “a therapeutic material has been administeredto a portion of a subject.” In some contexts, a given signal mayindicate either, both, or neither of these events. As used herein, anadministration “to a portion of” a subject indicates that theadministration was physical (therapeutic or systemic, e.g.) and notmerely a transfer of possession to the person. An “actuation in” avessel refers to a portion of the vessel moving relative to theremainder of the vessel. Thus a detection of a movement of “a portionof” a vessel may refer to an actuation in or to a movement of thevessel. In a context in which data indicating one or more such events isnot taken as definitive, additional data relevant to the samehypothesis/hypotheses may be combined with the prior indication(s) asdescribed herein.

Some descriptions herein refer to a “threshold frequency,” in relationto a wireless transmission region's energy response or distribution,above which energy begins to be attenuated or otherwise reduced by atleast 3 decibels (relative to a passband or lowpass nominal value,e.g.). A frequency range “extends” above or below a given frequency ifthe frequency bounds the range or if the range spans the frequency.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for implementing measurement and imaging as described hereinwithout undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,292(“Optical-based sensing devices”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,262 (“Apparatusand method for acquiring oximetry and electrocardiogram signals”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,280,858 (“Pulse oximetry sensor”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,907(“Blood-pressure monitoring device featuring a calibration-basedanalysis”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,741 (“Body position and activitysensor”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,811 (“Substantive water-soluble cationicUV-absorbing compounds”); U.S. Pub. No. 2003/0050542 (“Device forin-vivo measurement of the concentration of a substance contained in abody fluid”); U.S. Pub. No. 2002/0016535 (“Subcutaneous glucosemeasurement device”) or U.S. Pat. No. 7,181,054 (“System for processingimage representative data”).

With reference now to FIG. 8, shown is a system 800 in which one or moretechnologies may be implemented. Commode 810 is configured to include orsupport a primary system 200 that includes one or more monitor units 850having one or more receivers 831, transmitters 832, or sensors 833configured to detect or interact with one or more devices 860 that maybe present in a bowl 830 of the commode. Monitor unit 850 may likewiseinclude one or more buttons 835 or other controls that can be actuatedby a layperson (subject 382, e.g.). In some contexts, monitor unit 850may further include one or more memories 845 (containing one or moreimages 841, 842 of the inside of the bowl 830; one or more detectionmodules 870 configured to bear data 861, 862, 863; logic modules 875;control modules 880; or other media 881, 882 as described herein.Alternatively or additionally, system 800 may include one or moreapplication modules 110, interaction units 375, distillation units 460,data handling units 610, linking modules 790, or other secondary units820 as described herein.

With reference now to FIG. 14, shown is a high-level logic flow 1400 ofan operational process. Operation 10 describes detecting a firstindication whether a first device has been ingested in content of asignal from the first device (e.g. detection module 870 detecting data861 from a vessel 160 or other device 860 via receiver 831, the datacontaining a measurement 183, 664 or other ingestion-indicative featurestate 173 manifesting the “first” indication, relating to whether avessel 160 or other device 860 has been ingested). This can occur, forexample, in a context in which a monitor unit 850 or detection unit 180and one or more devices 860 corresponding thereto are obtained in a kit;in which such correspondence is established at least by virtue of such aunit being configured to respond selectively to the device(s); and inwhich each such device 860 was constructed and arranged with ahuman-digestible sensor coating (over one or more contacts ofacid-activated sensors 2164 or other sensors 2166, 2167, e.g.) such thatthe arrival of specific data 862 indicating a now-uncoated sensor ofdevice 860 tends to confirm or otherwise indicate that the device 860has been ingested. In some contexts, sensor 833 or device 860 may beconfigured to generate data 530 containing one or more colorimetric,chemical, or other device-detectable attributes of fecal samples ordigestive fluids. Alternatively or additionally, component 210 mayinclude an instance of device-executable code 101 configured to permitone or more processors 115, 295 or application-specific circuitry toperform variants of operation 10 as described herein.

Operation 11 describes detecting an apparent presence of or absence of afirst device at a toilet as a second indication whether the first devicehas been ingested (e.g. sensor 833 detecting the same device in or nearbowl 830, or the absence thereof, as digital data 862). This can occur,for example, in a context in which button 835, a seat movement ordeformation, a room's light switch turning off, a signal from secondaryunit 820, or some other suitable actuator or event triggers a low rangeor directional transmitter 832 to send one or more radio frequencyactivation pulses into bowl 830; in which device 860 contains a passiveradio frequency identification (RFID) element activated by transmitter832; in which detection module 870 has detected wireless data 861 fromdevice 860 (as described above) via receiver 831; and in which data 862contains the “second” indication. In such contexts, the recognition ofsuch wireless data 862 tends to corroborate or otherwise indicate thatthe device has been ingested. Alternatively or additionally, component211 may include an instance of device-executable code 102 configured topermit one or more processors 115, 295 or application-specific circuitryto perform variants of operation 11 as described herein. In a context inwhich receiver 831 performs operation 11, also, the received signal maycontain a measurement 183 or other indication 573 whether the device wasingested earlier (as the “first” or other confirmatory indication,e.g.).

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for detecting whether an object is within a region of interestas described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.No. 7,821,404 (“Systems and methods for improved health carecompliance”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,050 (“Automatic flushing actuator fortank style toilet”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,816 (“Communication betweenmachines and feed-forward control in event-based productmanufacturing”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,666,132 (“Anal incontinence diseasetreatment with controlled wireless energy supply”); U.S. Pat. No.7,350,402 (“Method and apparatus for determination of medicaldiagnostics utilizing biological fluids”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,879(“Method for separating analyte from a sample”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,733,224(“Mesh network personal emergency response appliance”); U.S. Pat. No.7,940,049 (“Portable wireless metal detector”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,012,504(“Wireless identification device, RFID device with push-on/push offswitch, and method of manufacturing wireless identification device”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,809,857 (“Method and system to collect geographiclocation information for a network address utilizing geographicallydispersed data collection agents”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,876,228 (“Method andapparatus for monitoring ingestion of medications using an implantablemedical device”); U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0285441 (“Systems and methods forimproved health care compliance”); U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0123772(“Medication compliance system and associated methods”).

Operation 21 describes signaling a data distillation indicative of aregimen compliance status partly based on the first indication whetherthe first device has been ingested in the content of the signal from thefirst device and partly based on the apparent presence of or absence ofthe first device at the toilet as the second indication whether thefirst device has been ingested (e.g. control module 880 indicating asuccessful dosage or other positive determinant 785 bearing upon thesubject's past or present regimen compliance and based at least upon the“first” and “second” indications). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which control module 880 transmits no signal across media 882unless and until such “second” and “first” indications are received.Alternatively or additionally, control module 880 may be configured totransmit timing data 539 across media 882 if another indication that thedevice has been ingested arrives and otherwise to store an image 842 orother data 863 on one or more archiving media 881. Alternatively oradditionally, component 221 may include an instance of device-executablecode 103 configured to permit one or more processors 115, 295 orapplication-specific circuitry to perform variants of operation 21 asdescribed below. In an embodiment in which component 221 includes a datahandling unit 610 configured to perform operation 21, for example, adata output 251 transmitted across linkage 250 may include a positiveindication 687 (of likely regimen compliance) conditionally upon bothoutput data 231 and output data 232 indicating that a particular vessel160 or other device 860 was ingested. This can occur, for example, in acontext in which there will otherwise be no data output 251 or in whichdata output 251 will otherwise include a regimen noncompliancedetermination 688 or other such negative indication 689 (indicating“unknown” compliance status, e.g.). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which such a vessel 160 initially includes one or moretherapeutic components 181 administered by ingestion and characterizedby a regimen that includes an antiviral material component 522 or othermaterial components 534 as described herein, for which timing data 538,539 may be a significant aspect of compliance. Alternatively oradditionally, component 221 may include an instance of device-executablecode 103 configured to permit one or more processors 115, 295 orapplication-specific circuitry to perform variants of operation 21 asdescribed below.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for signaling a data distillation indicative of a regimencompliance status partly based on content of a signal from a device or alocation of a device as described herein without undue experimentation.See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,312 (“Combination and method including avisual marker for determining compliance with a medication regimen”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,945,457 (“Distributed system for monitoring patientvideo, audio and medical parameter data”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,931,592(“Systems and methods for monitoring health and delivering drugstransdermally”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,484,129 (“Physiologic event monitoringdevice having robust internal control”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,729(“Method for monitoring patient using acoustic sensor”); U.S. Pat. No.7,991,628 (“Generating output data based on patient monitoring”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,945,461 (“Prescription compliance monitoring system”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,690,378 (“Methods, systems and devices for monitoringrespiratory disorders”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,814 (“Systems, methods anddevices for in vivo monitoring of a localized response via aradiolabeled analyte in a subject”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,924 (“Hand-heldapparatus for monitoring drug-nutrient-mineral interactions and methodtherefor”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,296 (“Fluid component analysis systemand method for glucose monitoring and control”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,511(“Methods of inhibiting angiogenesis via increasing in vivoconcentrations of kringle region fragments of plasminogen”).

Some instances of flow 1400 may (optionally) be performed by one or moreinstances of server 294 that are remote from primary system 200 butoperable to cause output device(s) 276 to receive and to present orcause results via linkage 250. Alternatively or additionally,device-detectable data 232 may be borne by one or more instances ofintegrated circuits 274, signal-bearing conduits 286, holding devices289, or the like as described herein. Such data may optionally beconfigured for transmission (in operation 21, e.g.) by a semiconductorchip or other embodiment of integrated circuit 274 that contains or isotherwise operatively coupled with antenna 275 (in a radio-frequencyidentification tag, for example).

In some variants, flow 1400 may be implemented entirely within primarysystem 200. Operation 10 may be implemented by configuring component 210as logic for detecting a first indication whether a first device hasbeen ingested in content of a signal from the first device, for example,such as by including special-purpose instruction sequences orspecial-purpose-circuit designs for this function. Operation 11 maylikewise be implemented by configuring component 211 as logic fordetecting an apparent presence of or absence of a first device at atoilet as a second indication whether the first device has beeningested. Output data 231 from components 210, 211 (combined on onechip, e.g.) in primary system 200 or network 290 may be recorded intoavailable portions of storage device(s) 287 or sent to component 221,for example. Component 221 may likewise perform operation 21 viaimplementation as logic for signaling a data distillation indicative ofa regimen compliance status partly based on the first indication whetherthe first device has been ingested in the content of the signal from thefirst device and partly based on the apparent presence of or absence ofthe first device at the toilet as the second indication whether thefirst device has been ingested, for example. Implementation output data232 from such a component in primary system 200 or network 290 may berecorded into available portions of storage device(s) 287 or sent toprocessor 295, for example. Each portion of implementation 201 maylikewise include one or more instances of software, hardware, or thelike implementing logic that may be expressed in several respectiveforms as described herein or otherwise understood by those skilled inthe art.

With reference now to FIG. 9, shown is a system 900 in which one or moretechnologies may be implemented for thwarting a subject 912 who isattempting to circumvent one or more compliance monitoring mechanisms,such as by immersing a capsule 910 in warm water in lieu of ingestingit. In some configurations, capsule 910 may include one or moreimmersion-responsive structures 905 (a water-soluble coating or moistureor pressure sensor, e.g.), detection modules 915 (including one or moreoptical sensors 916, optionally configured to detect ambient light 901,or other sensors 917 as described herein, e.g.), or wirelesstransceivers 918 providing a linkage 920 with a primary system 200 thatincludes one or more primary units 950 having one or more ports 931,sensors 932 (optionally configured to detect radio frequency or otherenergy 921, e.g.), signals 940 (manifesting a darkness indication 935 orother such indication 941 of an absence of a higher-frequency signaladjacent capsule 910, e.g.), and evaluation modules 960. Alternativelyor additionally, evaluation module 960 may include one or more acousticdetection modules 980 manifesting an indication 981 of a presence of alower-frequency signal (adjacent capsule 910, e.g.) to one or moredecision modules 970 that generate a regimen compliance status 976 orother data distillations 975 as described below. Alternatively oradditionally, primary unit 950 may be operably coupled with one or moreapplication modules 110, distillation units 460, linking modules 790, orother data handling units as described herein.

With reference now to FIG. 15, shown is a high-level logic flow 1500 ofan operational process. Operation 12 describes invoking circuitry fordetermining whether a presence of a wireless signal in a first frequencyrange below a threshold frequency occurred contemporaneously with anabsence of a wireless signal in a second frequency range above thethreshold frequency (e.g. decision module 970 selectively generating apositive signal in response to indications of sound being detected in ornear capsule 910 during a period in which an absence of ambient light901 is also detected at capsule 910). This may occur, for example, in acontext in which acoustic detection module 980 receives an output fromone or more sensors 932 signaling a lower-frequency energy 921characteristic of capsule 910 (ultrasound energy leaving the capsule,e.g.); in which the “threshold frequency” is taken to be a systemcomponent's cutoff frequency (one or more sensors 917, 932, for example,having a 3 dB cutoff frequency in the gigahertz or in the terahertzrange); in which optical sensor 916 transmits signal 940 containing adarkness indication 935 if it is in a dark environment; and in whichdecision module 970 implements an “AND” function. In some variantscapsule 910 may contain an ultrasound identification (USID) component,for example, and the applicable threshold frequency (F_(T)) may be a 3dB cutoff frequency of one or more sensors in the system 900.Alternatively or additionally, component 212 may include an instance ofdevice-executable code 102 configured to permit one or more processors115, 295 or application-specific circuitry to perform variants ofoperation 12 as described herein. In some contexts such variants maygenerate a negative signal, indicating that no detection of such a“presence” appeared to coincide with a detection of such an “absence,”for example, unless such conditions occurred within a specific interval(of a second or a minute, for example) of one another.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for determining whether particular combinations ofdevice-detectable phenomena are present in an environment as describedherein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,727,156(“Dual frequency band ultrasound transducer arrays”); U.S. Pat. No.7,517,346 (“Radio frequency ablation system with integrated ultrasoundimaging”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,431 (“Intradermal incorporation ofmicroparticles containing encapsulated drugs using low frequencyultrasound”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,399 (“Multi-wavelength frequencydomain near-infrared cerebral oximeter”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,141(“Repeating radio frequency transmission system for extending theeffective operational range of an infrared remote control system”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,782,208 (“Wireless communication device and method havingcoordinated primary and secondary transmitters”); U.S. Pat. No.7,970,208 (“Apparatus to detect homogeneous region of image usingadaptive threshold”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,282,926 (“Method and an apparatusfor characterizing a high-frequency device-under-test in a large signalimpedance tuning environment”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,385,557 (“PIFA devicefor providing optimized frequency characteristics in a multi-frequencyenvironment and method for controlling the same”); U.S. Pat. No.7,357,030 (“Apparatus and methods for determining at least onecharacteristic of a proximate environment”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,920,991(“Characterizing the capacity region in multi-channel, multi-radio meshnetworks”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,811 (“Method for frequency environmentmodeling and characterization”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,834 (“Plaquecharacterization using multiple intravascular ultrasound datasets havingdistinct filter bands”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,381 (“Characterization ofradio frequency (RF) signals using wavelet-based parameter extraction”).

Operation 22 describes indicating a regimen compliance status of asubject in response to the circuitry for determining whether a presenceof a wireless signal in a first frequency range below a thresholdfrequency occurred contemporaneously with an absence of a wirelesssignal in a second frequency range above the threshold frequency (e.g.evaluation module 960 generating and storing a 1-10 score or an A-Fgrade indicative of a current status of a subject 382, 912 in relationto a daily or other regimen 782). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which a subject's cumulative status 976 increments ordecrements (by a point or half-grade, e.g.) respectively in response toa positive or negative indication (from operation 12, e.g.); in whichoptical sensor 916 can detect ambient light 901 (if subject 912 has notingested capsule 910, e.g.); and in which a deliberate effort atgenerating a fraudulent indication of compliance (such as by immersingcapsule 910 in a bowl of water at 37° C. (centigrade), for example,calculated to fool a temperature-responsive detection module 915 intofalsely indicating that capsule 910 had been ingested) would otherwisego unnoticed. Alternatively or additionally, evaluation module 960 mayimplement other components of distillation unit 460 or other datahandling units 610 as described herein, such as for generating a regimencompliance determination 686, warning, or other message (“not reliable,”e.g.) conditionally (as a compliance status indication 769 or other datadistillation 690, e.g.). In some contexts, capsule 910 may implementdevice 860 as described above so that such distillations 975 may(optionally) include chemical sensor output or other indications whethercapsule 910 has been ingested in content of a signal from capsule 910.Alternatively or additionally, a vessel 160 may contain some instancesof capsule 910 of a first type (able to detect only light or sound,e.g.) and others of a second type (able to detect ingestion-indicativephenomena different from that of the first type, e.g.), optionally in acontext in which primary unit 950 is configured to detect either type ofcapsule 910. By combining two or more visually indistinguishable speciesof capsule (able to detect different phenomena, e.g.) in a vessel,compliance monitoring becomes much more difficult for a subject 912 tothwart. Alternatively or additionally, cost-effective implementationsmay include one or more non-sensor-containing capsules that are likewisevisually indistinguishable to a subject. In some contexts, such updatedregimen compliance indications or other messages may be transmittedperiodically (weekly, e.g.) to a subscriber or other subject 382 orothers (care provider 383, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally,component 222 may include an instance of device-executable code 103configured to permit one or more processors 115, 295 orapplication-specific circuitry to perform variants of operation 22 asdescribed herein.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for signaling a status in relation to a recommended orrequired regimen as described herein without undue experimentation. See,e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,975,543 (“Method for carrying out isometricexercise regimen”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,747,454 (“System and method for realtime management of a drug regimen”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,288 (“Unifiedingestion package and process for patient compliance with prescribedmedication regimen”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,348 (“Methods for refiningpatient, staff and visitor profiles used in monitoring quality andperformance at a healthcare facility”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,941,323 (“Remotehealth monitoring and maintenance system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,853,455(“Remote health monitoring and maintenance system”); U.S. Pat. No.7,680,690 (“Intelligent menu ordering system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,973,043(“Combination therapy for depression, prevention of suicide, and variousmedical and psychiatric conditions”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,820,108 (“Markerdetection method and apparatus to monitor drug compliance”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,991,628 (“Generating output data based on patient monitoring”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,991,485 (“System and method for obtaining, processingand evaluating patient information for diagnosing disease and selectingtreatment”).

Some instances of flow 1500 may (optionally) be performed by one or moreservers 294 that are remote from primary system 200 but operable tocause output device(s) 276 to receive and to present or cause resultsvia linkage 250. Alternatively or additionally, device-detectable data234 may be borne by one or more instances of integrated circuits 274,signal-bearing conduits 286, holding devices 289, or the like asdescribed herein. Such data may optionally be configured fortransmission (in operation 22, e.g.) by a semiconductor chip or otherembodiment of integrated circuit 274 that contains or is otherwiseoperatively coupled with antenna 275 (in a radio-frequencyidentification tag, for example).

In some variants, flow 1500 may be implemented entirely within primarysystem 200. Operation 12 may (optionally) be implemented by configuringcomponent 212 as logic for determining whether a presence of a wirelesssignal in a first frequency range below a threshold frequency occurredcontemporaneously with an absence of a wireless signal in a secondfrequency range above the threshold frequency, for example, such as byincluding special-purpose instruction sequences orspecial-purpose-circuit designs for this function. Output data 233 fromcomponent 212 in primary system 200 or network 290 may be recorded intoavailable portions of storage device(s) 287 or sent to component 222,for example. Component 222 may likewise perform operation 22 viaimplementation as logic for indicating a regimen compliance status of asubject in response to the circuitry for determining whether a presenceof a wireless signal in a first frequency range below a thresholdfrequency occurred contemporaneously with an absence of a wirelesssignal in a second frequency range above the threshold frequency, forexample. Implementation output data 234 from such a component in primarysystem 200 or network 290 may be recorded into available portions ofstorage device(s) 287 or sent to processor 295, for example. Eachportion of implementation 202 may likewise include one or more instancesof software, hardware, or the like implementing logic that may beexpressed in several respective forms as described herein or otherwiseunderstood by those skilled in the art.

With reference now to FIG. 10, shown is a system 1000 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented for systematic data distillation.In some configurations, one or more vessels 1010 (capsules, implants,patches, or other therapeutic or monitoring devices, e.g.) are used formonitoring one or more study participants or other subjects 1082. Thiscan occur, for example, in a context in which vessel 1010 includes avessel body 1045; one or more sensors 1011, 1012, 1013; transmissionmodules 1030 configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal 1034;or actuators 1051, 1052. Alternatively or additionally, one or more suchcomponents may initially be in a disabled state (e.g. by virtue of oneor more coatings or other barriers 1018; actuation circuitry asdescribed herein; or other such disablement structures 1020). In somecontexts, for example, vessel 1010 may comprise one or more ingestiblevessels including one or more conditional disablement structuresconfigured to prevent (disable in situ, e.g.) transmission module 1030from generating any wireless signal until after an in situ detection ofa bodily fluid or other composition of matter (dissolving or melting oneor more barriers 1018 or causing one or more sensors 1011-1013, forexample, to activate transmission module 1030 to transmit a wirelesssignal 1034 detectable by detection device 1090 ex situ). Alternativelyor additionally, in some variants, one or more vessels 1010 or otherproducts 150 may transmit such signals (via antenna 185, e.g.) to one ormore application modules 110, distillation units 460, linking modules790, or other data handling units as described herein (implementingdetection device 1090, e.g.).

With reference now to FIG. 16, shown is a high-level logic flow 1600 ofan operational process. Operation 13 describes configuring wirelesssignal transmission circuitry for generating a device-detectablewireless transmission (e.g. configuration module 795 transmittingsoftware updates to modify transmission module 1030 of vessel 1010 totransmit a wireless signal 1034 in a higher or lower frequency band asdepicted in FIG. 23). This can occur, for example, in a context in whichan ingestible vessel body 1045 has been configured to containtransmission module 1030; in which a barrier 1018 or other conditionaldisablement structure 1020 is initially configured to disabletransmission module 1030 from generating any wireless signal detectableby any ex situ device 1090 (until after an indication that vessel 1010has been ingested by or otherwise administered to subject 1082, e.g.).Such an indication can be provided as a component of regimen compliance,for example, as an enabling signal from one or more sensors 1011, 1012of pH, temperature, conductivity, recognizable auditory or opticalphenomena, or other indicia of contact in situ with tissue or bodilyfluid (of subject 1082, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally, such apositive indication 687 relating to regimen compliance may manifest as adissolution or other movement of a coating (soluble in one or moredigestive fluids, e.g.) or other barrier 1018 (holding a self-closingswitch open, e.g.) that enables one or more sensors 1012, 1013 to detectwhether a second (confirmatory, e.g.) indication of compliance or othercompliance status data distillations 690 as described herein arepresent. In some variants, one or more such bodies 1045 may contain aliquid or other therapeutic material 1046 releasable (a) by a movementof a valve or other actuator 1052 relative to body 1045 or (b) by abarrier 1018 dissolving or melting conditionally (in response to one ormore in vivo conditions, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally, component213 may include an instance of device-executable code 102 configured topermit one or more processors 115, 295 or application-specific circuitryto perform variants of operation 13 as described herein. (Additionalinstances of tuning or otherwise configuring the wireless signaltransmission circuitry may occur, of course, such as duringmanufacture.)

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for transmitting a device-detectable wireless transmission outof a subject as described herein without undue experimentation. See,e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,488 (“RFID wireless 2G, 3G, 4G internetsystems including Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, OFDM, CDMA, TDMA, GSM”); U.S. Pat. No.7,621,863 (“Urinary incontinence treatment with wireless energysupply”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,460,904 (“Wireless systems and methods for thedetection of neural events using onboard processing”); U.S. Pat. No.6,577,893 (“Wireless medical diagnosis and monitoring equipment”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,967,439 (“Wireless scleral search coil including systems formeasuring eye movement and methods related thereto”); U.S. Pat. No.6,907,291 (“Secure telemetry system and method for an implantablecardiac stimulation device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,630,736 (“Method andsystem for spatial data input, manipulation and distribution via anadaptive wireless transceiver”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,933,642 (“Wireless ECGsystem”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,782,190 (“Implantable device and system andmethod for wireless communication”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,845 (“Methodand apparatus for wireless communication of identification informationbetween radio frequency devices”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,963 (“Methods ofprocessing wireless communication, methods of processing radio frequencycommunication, and related systems”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,808 (“Wirelessevent-recording device with identification codes”); U.S. Pat. No.7,849,752 (“Method and system for passive wireless strain gauge”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,926,491 (“Method and apparatus for sensing field strengthsignals to estimate location of a wireless implantable marker”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,125,382 (“Embedded bio-sensor system”); U.S. Pat. No.7,041,941 (“Medical item thermal treatment systems and method ofmonitoring medical items for compliance with prescribed requirements”);U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2007/0008113 (“System to monitor the ingestion ofmedicines”); U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2006/0289640 (“Oral drug compliancemonitoring using radio frequency identification tags”); U.S. Pat. Pub.No. 2006/0210626 (“Radio frequency identification pharmaceuticaltracking system and method”); U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2006/0061472(“Trackable pills with electronic ID tags”). See also Moore, “ThePotential Use of Radio Frequency Identification Devices for ActiveMonitoring of Blood Glucose Levels,” J. Diabetes Sci. Technol. 3:180-183, 2009.

Operation 23 describes causing the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry in situ to initiate a wireless transmission detectable by anex situ device in response to a material-selective in situ detection ofa biological material (e.g. disablement structure 1020 or actuator 1051responding to contact with tissue or bodily fluid in subject 1082 bypermitting transmission module 1030 to transmit a wireless signal 1034).This can occur, for example, in a context in which one or more sensors1012, 1013 detect at least one condition as described herein and inwhich transmission module 1030 is configured to respond to one or moreoutputs from such sensors by transmitting one or more wireless signals1034 potentially detectable by a receiver or other detection device 1090ex situ. In a context in which vessel 1010 is an adhesive patch or otherexternally wearable apparatus, for example, wireless signal 1034 may bean optical signal (a fluorescent or other distinctive color, e.g.)selectively detectable by a photodetector. In some such externalapplications, moreover, the disabling structure 1020 or actuator 1051may perform operation 23 by causing ex vivo transmission circuitrytransmission module 1030 to generate the wireless signal 1034 inresponse to an ex vivo detection (via sensor 1013, e.g.) of a biologicalmaterial (a composition of matter derived from living sources, e.g.).Alternatively or additionally, component 223 may include an instance ofdevice-executable code 103 configured to permit one or more processors115, 295 or application-specific circuitry to perform variants ofoperation 23 as described herein.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for configuring chemical or other sensors, semi-permeablebarriers, special-purpose circuitry, and/or other features responsive tobiological conditions into various structures effective for selectivelydetecting a presence of living tissue or other biological material (asdistinct from a null hypothesis, e.g.) as described herein without undueexperimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,983,458 (“In vivo autonomouscamera with on-board data storage or digital wireless transmission inregulatory approved band”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,941,162 (“System forproviding alert-based services to mobile stations in a wirelesscommunications network”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,839,153 (“Communicating withan implanted wireless sensor”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,062 (“Medical datatransport over wireless life critical network”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,334(“Antenna stent device for wireless, intraluminal monitoring”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,965,180 (“Wireless sensor device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,808,090(“Wireless chip”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,877,120 (“Battery-operatedwireless-communication apparatus and method”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,917(“Analytical test element with wireless data transmission”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,226,442 (“Microchip reservoir devices using wireless transmissionof power and data”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,700 (“Heartburn and refluxdisease treatment apparatus with wireless energy supply”); U.S. Pat. No.6,319,510 (“Gum pad for delivery of medication to mucosal tissues”).

Some instances of flow 1600 may (optionally) be performed by one or moreservers 294 that are remote from primary system 200 but operable tocause output device(s) 276 to receive and to present or cause resultsvia linkage 250. Alternatively or additionally, device-detectable data236 may be borne by one or more instances of integrated circuits 274,signal-bearing conduits 286, holding devices 289, or the like asdescribed herein. Such data may optionally be configured fortransmission (in operation 23, e.g.) by a semiconductor chip or otherembodiment of integrated circuit 274 that contains or is otherwiseoperatively coupled with antenna 275 (in a radio-frequencyidentification tag, for example).

In some variants, flow 1600 may be implemented entirely within primarysystem 200. Operation 13 may (optionally) be implemented by configuringcomponent 213 as logic for generating a device-detectable wirelesstransmission, for example, such as by including special-purposeinstruction sequences or special-purpose-circuit designs for thisfunction. Output data 235 from component 213 in primary system 200 ornetwork 290 may be recorded into available portions of storage device(s)287 or sent to component 223, for example. Component 223 may likewiseperform operation 23 via implementation as logic for causing thewireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wirelesstransmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material, forexample. Implementation output data 236 from such a component in primarysystem 200 or network 290 may be recorded into available portions ofstorage device(s) 287 or sent to processor 295, for example. Eachportion of implementation 203 may likewise include one or more instancesof software, hardware, or the like implementing logic that may beexpressed in several respective forms as described herein or otherwiseunderstood by those skilled in the art.

With reference now to FIG. 11, shown is a system 1100 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented in relation to a mouth, digestivetract, or other portion 1115 of interest in or on an individual 1112. Insome contexts, such portions may be imaged, measured, or otherwisedetected by one or more monitoring modules 1101 of a primary unit 1110(handheld 1102 or other interface 1105, e.g.) configured to aggregate ordistill data 1106, 1107 (via one or more sensors 1108, e.g.).Alternatively or additionally, such data (relating to regimencompliance, e.g.) can be obtained via one or more “smart” bottles 1152,capsules 1153, tubes 1154, syringes 1155, inhalers 1158, or othervessels 1190. In some variants, for example, such vessels may contain aninhalant 1143, psychoactive drug 1194, or other bioactive material 1195or may include one or more covers 1181, plungers 1182, actuators 1184,color-coded portions, or other detection features 1185 (portions 1141,1142 that move in relation to one another during an administration to aportion of a subject 1112, for example, such as may be detected by oneor more sensors 1159, e.g.). In some contexts, moreover, actuation orother indications of movement (transmitted or received by antenna 1151via wireless linkage 1120, e.g.) may signal an inhalation, ingestion,injection, expulsion, location, or other event relating to compliance asdescribed herein (with reference to FIGS. 14-19, e.g.).

With reference now to FIG. 17, shown is a high-level logic flow 1700 ofan operational process. Operation 14 describes obtaining first dataindicating that at least a portion of a container moved, the first datasignaling that a therapeutic material has been administered to a portionof a subject (e.g. monitoring module 1101 transmitting data 1106selectively in response to receiving via antenna 1151 adevice-detectable manifestation of movement of a cover 1181 or otheractuator 1184 configured to dispense a psychoactive drug 1194 into oronto one or more human subjects 1112). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which an actuation detection feature 1185 is configured tofacilitate such movement detection via one or more sensors 1108, 1159(detecting a movement of actuator 1184 or of an entirety of vessel 1190,e.g.), in which an optical or other wireless signal 1034 passing vialinkage 1120 includes such “first” data, and in which primary unit 1110implements an interaction unit 375, distillation unit 490, or other datahandling units as described herein. Alternatively or additionally, such“first” data may comprise a dispenser control signal (from switch 145 orinput device 178, e.g.) or other signal indicative of prior orconcurrent physical dispensation into or onto one or more subjects 382,1112. In a context in which interaction unit 375 implements a dispenser(inhaler 1158, e.g.) or other vessel 160, 1190 handled by a subject1112, for example, monitoring module 1101 may receive any of severalindications 574, 575 of a dispensation as “first” data 1106 indicatingthat bioactive material 1195 is being physically dispensed. Likewisecomponent 214 may (optionally) include device-executable code 102configured to permit one or more processors 115, 295 orapplication-specific circuitry to perform variants of operation 14 asdescribed herein.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for generating and otherwise obtaining data indicating thatsome or all of a container moved as described herein without undueexperimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,281 (“Method andapparatus for monitoring movements of an individual”); U.S. Pat. No.7,715,277 (“Interactive medication container”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,340(“Medicament dispensing device with a display indicative of the state ofan internal medicament reservoir”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,648 (“Medicamentdispensing system”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,752 (“Method, apparatus andoperating system for managing the administration of medication andmedical treatment regimens”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,086 (“Remotecontrolled transdermal medication delivery device”); U.S. Pat. No.6,656,159 (“Dispenser for patient infusion device”); U.S. Pat. No.5,694,919 (“Lockout device for controlled release of drug frompatient-activated dispenser”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,852,217 (“Objectdetecting device, object detecting method and object detecting computerprogram”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,049,960 (“Method and system for locatingobjects”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,957,984 (“Device for facilitating compliancewith medication regimen”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,943 (“Medication doseunderfill detection system and application in an automated syringepreparing system”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,600 (“Ultrasound image assistedadministering of medication”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,435 (“Combinationgravimetric and volumetric dispenser for multiple fluids”).

Operation 24 describes signaling second data corroborating orcontraindicating that the therapeutic material has been administered tothe portion of the subject responsive to the first data indicating thatat least the portion of the container moved (e.g. interface 1105requesting and recording, responsive to data 1106 from monitoring module1101 manifesting a recognition of an actuator movement or otherdetection feature 1185, a verbal assurance or other “second” data 1107from subject 1112 confirming such physical administration). This canoccur, for example, in a context in which a bottle 1152, capsule 1153,or other vessel 1190 is configured to contain a bioactive material 1195or other therapeutic product 150, in which the portion 1115 of thesubject 1112 comprises the subject's throat, in which the “second” datadoes or does not include a specific reference to the throat, in whichservice provider 310 has configured interface 1105 to request verbalconfirmation within a minute after monitoring module 1101 recognizes“first” data 1106, in which interface 1105 plays an audible query of“has the 2:00 medication been administered?” as a prompt and records afive-second sound clip afterward representative of a response (from acare provider 383 or other individual in the subject's environment,e.g.), and in which a series of such recordings (as raw data orotherwise) manifests a record of regimen compliance. Alternatively oradditionally, interface 1105 may take such action responsive to “first”data signaling a relative movement of portions 1141, 1142 indicatingthat an inhalant 1143 or other drug may have been administered to athroat or other portion 1115 of subject 1112. In some variants,moreover, additional optical or other sensors 1108 in the subject'svicinity may take images (before and after, e.g.) or other “second” dataas described herein. This can occur, for example, in a context in whicha prior measurement 553 and current measurement 554 (of blood pressure,e.g.) before and after a putative administration (of a vasodilator,e.g.) is probative of whether the administration was actual, such as bystoring the measurements or a comparison of the measurements in summarydata 446. Alternatively or additionally, component 224 may include aninstance of device-executable code 103 configured to permit one or moreprocessors 115, 295 or application-specific circuitry to performvariants of operation 24 as described herein. In some variants, forexample, a webcam or other monitoring unit 1101 (oriented to capture oneor more images of a bathroom or other region in which one or moresubjects may self-administer a medication, e.g.) may begin taking avideo clip or other such images in response to a bottle 1152 or othervessel 1190 that has been configured to transmit a characteristicfrequency or other recognizable wireless signal attribute (acharacteristic “squawk” or “chirp” or digital sequence, e.g.) when anactuation or other sign of administration occurs.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for signaling that therapeutic material has been administeredinto or onto a subject responsive to a detection event as describedherein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,331(“Solenoid using color-coded visual indicia in a liquid dispensingsystem”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,920 (“External infusion device with remoteprogramming, bolus estimator and/or vibration alarm capabilities”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,942,916 (“Phototreatment device for use with coolants andtopical substances”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,733,224 (“Mesh network personalemergency response appliance”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,905,230 (“Metered doseinhaler with lockout”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,383 (“Dry powder inhalerdevices, multi-dose dry powder drug packages, control systems, andassociated methods”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,102 (“Removable controller foran infusion pump”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,963,946 (“Method and system forcontrolled infusion of therapeutic substances”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,937,461(“Method for controlling a daily living activity monitoring system froma remote location”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,843 (“Controllable drugdelivery device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,914,483 (“Pain controlled analgesic(“PCA”) apparatus”).

Some instances of flow 1700 may (optionally) be performed by one or moreservers 294 that are remote from primary system 200 but operable tocause output device(s) 276 to receive and to present or cause resultsvia linkage 250. Alternatively or additionally, device-detectable data238 may be borne by one or more instances of integrated circuits 274,signal-bearing conduits 286, holding devices 289, or the like asdescribed herein. Such data may optionally be configured fortransmission (in operation 24, e.g.) by a semiconductor chip or otherembodiment of integrated circuit 274 that contains or is otherwiseoperatively coupled with antenna 275 (in a radio-frequencyidentification tag, for example).

In some variants, flow 1700 may be implemented entirely within primarysystem 200. Operation 14 may (optionally) be implemented by configuringcomponent 214 as logic for obtaining first data indicating that at leasta portion of a container moved, the first data signaling that atherapeutic material has been administered to a portion of a subject,for example, such as by including special-purpose instruction sequencesor special-purpose-circuit designs for this function. Output data 237from component 214 in primary system 200 or network 290 may be recordedinto available portions of storage device(s) 287 or sent to component224, for example. Component 224 may likewise perform operation 24 viaimplementation as logic for signaling second data corroborating orcontraindicating that the therapeutic material has been administered tothe portion of the subject responsive to the first data indicating thatat least the portion of the container moved, for example. Implementationoutput data 238 from such a component in primary system 200 or network290 may be recorded into available portions of storage device(s) 287 orsent to processor 295, for example. Each portion of implementation 204may likewise include one or more instances of software, hardware, or thelike implementing logic that may be expressed in several respectiveforms as described herein or otherwise understood by those skilled inthe art.

With reference now to FIG. 12, shown is a system 1200 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented by which one or more vessels 1210having one or more antennas 1250 may establish a linkage 1255 to or withan application module 110 or other device 1280 in a vicinity of one ormore subjects 382, 1282. In some contexts, such devices may include oneor more decision modules 1270 configured to implement one or moredecisions 1273 to enable or otherwise cause an actuation of one or moremotors 133 or other mechanical components 1275, 1276 in response to adetection or other wireless signal 1230 from a vessel 1210 ingested byor implanted into a human or other subject 1282. One or more logicmodules 1222 or other control modules 1220 may manifest such detectionsor decisions as or from indicia 1224 from one or more mucosal materialsensors 1221; pH sensors 1225 or other chemical sensors 1226; or othersensors 1228, 1229 and sensor logic 1227 as described herein.Alternatively or additionally, control module 1220 may respond tomeasurements or other indicia 1224 (timing data 537, 538, 539 orbiometric data 536, e.g.) by dispensing one or more anti-infectivematerials 1237 or other bioactive materials 1240 (administering materialcomponents 534 to a portion of a subject 382, e.g.). Alternatively oradditionally, device 1280 may include one or more media 550 or datahandling units 610 as described herein.

With reference now to FIG. 18, shown is a high-level logic flow 1800 ofan operational process. Operation 15 describes obtaining an indicationwhether a vessel has been ingested by a subject (e.g. logic module 1222and a mucosal material sensor 1221, temperature sensor, or other sensor1229 jointly generating one or more measurements or other indicia 1224that vessel 1210 has been ingested by a human subject 382, 1112, 1282).This can occur in a context in which a vessel 1210 that includes suchcomponents is configured to be ingestible by a human or other subject1282 and, for example, to dispense an anti-infective material 1237 orother bioactive material 1240. In some variants, vessel 1210 may includean acid-soluble coating or other barrier 1018 as described herein. Forexample, such barriers may include a therapeutic or other bioactivematerial 1240 configured to corroborate the vessel having been ingested(by being configured to melt below, but within 0 to 10 degreescentigrade of, a nominal body temperature of a mammal as the subject,for example, or to dissolve by a chemical reaction with digestivefluids). Alternatively or additionally, component 215 may includedevice-executable code 102 configured to permit one or more processors115, 295 or application-specific circuitry to perform variants ofoperation 15 as described herein.

Operation 25 describes signaling a decision whether to actuate amechanical component outside the subject responsive to the indicationwhether the vessel has been ingested by the subject (e.g. control module1220 responding to the one or more such indicia 1224 by transmitting awireless signal 1230 directing an electromechanical device 1280 to moveone or more mechanical components 1275). This can occur, for example, ina context in which control module 1220 transmits such decision 1273 viaantenna 1250 to a decision module 1270 configured to trigger an actuator1184 or other mechanical component 1275 accessible to a subject 382,1282 (implemented in interaction unit 375, e.g.). Alternatively oradditionally, decision module 1270 may respond to one or more suchdecisions 1273 by disabling one or more locks 132 or otherwise bycausing one or more mechanical components 1276 not to move (selectively)in response to a wireless signal 1230 or other device-detectableindication that vessel 1210 has been ingested. Alternatively oradditionally, component 225 may include an instance of device-executablecode 103 configured to permit one or more processors 115, 295 orapplication-specific circuitry to perform variants of operation 25 asdescribed herein.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for deciding whether to actuate a mechanical component asdescribed herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.7,988,627 (“Biometric network exchange system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,986,220(“Automatic door system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,984,853 (“Reducing internaltheft at a point of sale”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,676 (“Training guidancesystem for canines, felines, or other animals”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,667,609(“Expert system rescue of impaired equipment operators”); U.S. Pat. No.7,620,817 (“System for security checking or transport of persons by anelevator installation and a method for operating this system”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,584,033 (“Automobile monitoring for operation analysis”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,451,852 (“Vehicle sobriety interlock system withpersonal identification element”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,327,231 (“Failsafedisable in a vehicle security system”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,779(“Monitoring system for an industrial process using one or moremultidimensional variables”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,246 (“Automatedbeverage system”).

Some instances of flow 1800 may (optionally) be performed by one or moreservers 294 that are remote from primary system 200 but operable tocause output device(s) 276 to receive and to present or cause resultsvia linkage 250. Alternatively or additionally, device-detectable data240 may be borne by one or more instances of integrated circuits 274,signal-bearing conduits 286, holding devices 289, or the like asdescribed herein. Such data may optionally be configured fortransmission (in operation 25, e.g.) by a semiconductor chip or otherembodiment of integrated circuit 274 that contains or is otherwiseoperatively coupled with antenna 275 (in a radio-frequencyidentification tag, for example).

In some variants, flow 1800 may be implemented entirely within primarysystem 200. Operation 15 may (optionally) be implemented by configuringcomponent 215 as logic for obtaining an indication whether a vessel hasbeen ingested by a subject, for example, such as by includingspecial-purpose instruction sequences or special-purpose-circuit designsfor this function. Output data 239 from component 215 in primary system200 or network 290 may be recorded into available portions of storagedevice(s) 287 or sent to component 225, for example. Component 225 maylikewise perform operation 25 via implementation as logic for signalinga decision whether to actuate a mechanical component outside the subjectresponsive to the indication whether the vessel has been ingested by thesubject, for example. Implementation output data 240 from such acomponent in primary system 200 or network 290 may be recorded intoavailable portions of storage device(s) 287 or sent to processor 295,for example. Each portion of implementation 205 may likewise include oneor more instances of software, hardware, or the like implementing logicthat may be expressed in several respective forms as described herein orotherwise understood by those skilled in the art.

With reference now to FIG. 13, shown is a system 1300 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented to respond to one or more signals1365 received (via wireless receiver 1370, e.g.) from a capsule or otherunit in a region 1330 of interest (a module 162 or other device in aportion or vicinity of a subject or in a detection region defined by anenergy sensor, e.g.). See FIG. 23. This can occur, for example, in acontext in which such a vessel 490 (implant 1340, e.g.) transmits asignal 1365 (originating in one or more sensors 1342, e.g.) along awireless signal path 1345 (through skin 1326 or other tissue 1320, e.g.)into a handheld instrument 1350 or other detection module 1380.Alternatively or additionally, detection module 1380 may include one ormore instances of decision modules 1394, reporting modules 1397, oracquisition modules 1360 (including one or more ultrasound imagingmodules 1361 or other imaging modules 1362 configured to capture images1364 selectively as described herein, e.g.). Moreover interface 270 mayimplement a similar detection module having one or more charge-coupleddevices, lenses 271, or other input devices 278 (configured to performselective image capture and optionally coupled with one or more imagedata distillation modules 434 as described herein, e.g.).

With reference now to FIG. 19, shown is a high-level logic flow 1900 ofan operational process. Operation 16 describes deciding whether toobtain one or more images of a region responsively to whether a wirelesssignal has been received from a device in the region (e.g. decisionmodule 1394 deciding whether to trigger acquisition module 1360 ofinstrument 1350 to capture one or more images 631 in response towireless receiver 1370 receiving a wireless signal 1034, 1365 fromvessel 1010 or implant 1340). This can occur, for example, in a contextin which such triggering occurs quickly enough (within a fewmilliseconds, e.g.) so that a handheld instrument 1350 will still bepositioned effectively to permit the region 1330 of interest (containingthe device, e.g.) to be imaged. In some variants, for example, one orboth of application module 110 and product 150 may perform suchtriggered acquisition of images 1364 (and biometric data 536 or othercompliance status indications 573-575 as well, e.g.) contemporaneouslyin response to detecting the other. Alternatively or additionally,component 216 may include device-executable code 102 configured topermit one or more processors 115, 295 or application-specific circuitryto perform variants of operation 16 (responsive to one or more sensors179, 833, e.g.) as described herein.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for receiving and recognizing particular wireless signals orattributes from a proximal device in a region of interest as describedherein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,036(“Secure remote voice activation system using a password”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,961,936 (“Non-overlap region based automatic global alignment forring camera image mosaic”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,830,417 (“System and methodfor interacting with objects via a camera enhanced mobile device”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,949,150 (“Automatic camera calibration and geo-registrationusing objects that provide positional information”); U.S. Pat. No.7,796,162 (“Providing multiple synchronized camera views for broadcastfrom a live venue activity to remote viewers”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,819,867(“Hand-held remote control and display system for film and video camerasand lenses”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,330,742 (“Portable communication deviceand method of sensing camera operation mode in the portablecommunication device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,898,570 (“Digital camera systemwith means for restricting image acquisition”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,792,364(“Image processing apparatus and image processing program product fordiscriminating dot region in image”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,636,470 (“Red-eyedetection based on red region detection with eye confirmation”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,613,426 (“Proximity service discovery in wireless networks”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,590 (“Method for locating an implanted fluid accessport”).

Operation 26 describes signaling a data distillation indicative of aregimen compliance status responsively to whether the wireless signalhas been received from the device in the region (e.g. reporting module1397 conditionally transmitting a regimen noncompliance determination688 responsive to an absence of compliance-indicative data within thewireless signal, or to a failure to receive the wireless signal within aprescribed duration specified by one or more thresholds 563 or otherdata distillation criteria 625). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which an expert service provider 310 requires a care provider383 or prison guard to perform a periodic scanning of the region(scanning a part of the subject's body via a handheld instrument 1350 orstationary monitor 850, e.g.); in which data handling unit 610 isconfigured to detect the wireless signal via one or more detectionmodules 870, 1380; and in which an output (reporting module 1397, e.g.)transmits confirmatory data, such as an image 1364 of region 1330 orother scan results, as a manifestation of compliance. Alternatively, insome variants, reporting module 1397 may be configured to transmit anegative indication 689 (as the data distillation of operation 26,indicating a negative regiment compliance status) in the absence ofcompliance-indicative data 652 and otherwise to transmit nothing(manifesting a regimen compliance determination 686 or other positiveindication 687, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally, component 226 mayinclude an instance of device-executable code 103 configured to permitone or more processors 115, 295 or application-specific circuitry toperform variants of operation 26 as described herein.

In some contexts, control modules may jointly perform operation 26 byindicating “currently compliant” or some other compliance-positiveindication 687 responsively to a recognizable wireless signal being orhaving been received from an implanted or ingested vessel 160, 1010,1210 or other peripheral unit 190 in a region of interest. This canoccur, for example, in a context in which the bowl 830 of commode 810 ofFIG. 8 bounds the region of interest, in which commode 810 supports orincludes a monitor unit 850 having one or more sensors 833 or otherfeatures oriented toward or positioned in bowl 830, in which detectionmodule 870 has recognized data 863 from an ingestible capsule or otherdevice 860 in the region, and in which logic module 875 and controlmodule 880 are jointly configured to perform operation 26 responsivelyto such recognition (as an instance of operation 16, e.g.).Alternatively or additionally, component 226 may includedevice-executable code 103 configured to permit one or more processors115, 295 or application-specific circuitry to perform variants ofoperation 26.

Some instances of flow 1900 may (optionally) be performed by one or moreservers 294 that are remote from primary system 200 but operable tocause output device(s) 276 to receive and to present or cause resultsvia linkage 250. Alternatively or additionally, device-detectable data242 may be borne by one or more instances of integrated circuits 274,signal-bearing conduits 286, holding devices 289, or the like asdescribed herein. Such data may optionally be configured fortransmission (in operation 26, e.g.) by a semiconductor chip or otherembodiment of integrated circuit 274 that contains or is otherwiseoperatively coupled with antenna 275 (in a radio-frequencyidentification tag, for example).

In some variants, flow 1900 may be implemented entirely within primarysystem 200. Operation 16 may (optionally) be implemented by configuringcomponent 216 as logic for deciding whether to obtain one or more imagesof a region responsively to whether a wireless signal has been receivedfrom a device in the region, for example, such as by includingspecial-purpose instruction sequences or special-purpose-circuit designsfor this function. Output data 241 from component 216 in primary system200 or network 290 may be recorded into available portions of storagedevice(s) 287 or sent to component 226, for example. Component 226 maylikewise perform operation 26 via implementation as logic for signalinga data distillation indicative of a regimen compliance statusresponsively to whether the wireless signal has been received from thedevice in the region, for example. Implementation output data 242 fromsuch a component in primary system 200 or network 290 may be recordedinto available portions of storage device(s) 287 or sent to processor295, for example. Each portion of implementation 206 may likewiseinclude one or more instances of software, hardware, or the likeimplementing logic that may be expressed in several respective forms asdescribed herein or otherwise understood by those skilled in the art.

With reference now to FIG. 20, shown is a system 2000 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented. In various configurations,response module 2010 may implement (as application-specific data sets onone or more media 550 or in code 101-104 executable by one or moreprocessors 115, 295, e.g.) one or more regimens 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004;decision modules 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027; timing data2037, 2038, 2039; queries 2032, replies 2034, and other messages 2041,2042, 2043, 2044 or signals 2051, 2052, 2053, 2054. Alternatively oradditionally, one or more instances of response module 2010 (in aningestible vessel 160 or other peripheral unit 190, e.g.) may likewiseinclude one or more sensors 187, 833, 917, 932 or other detectioncomponents 796 configured to signal one or more measurements 664-667 orother detected events; to apply one or more thresholds 2061, 2062, 2063,2064 or other criteria; or otherwise to generate one or more pointers676-679 or other indications 2071, 2072, 2073, 2074 in relation to oneor more clips 641-644, samples 2015, 2017, or regimens as describedherein.

With reference now to FIG. 21, shown is a system 2100 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented. Event/condition detection unit2150 may include one or more acid-activated sensors 2164; sensors 2166,2167 for detecting RF energy 2168, vocalizations, or other such energyphenomena; sensors 2169 configured to detect optical or other attributesof a sample 2165; sensors 2171, 2172 (on or near skin 1326 or othertissue 1320 in situ, e.g.) supported by a patch, garment, or other bodycontact device 2175; or other sensors 179, 187, 1011-1013 or detectionstructures as described herein. In some variants, for example,event/condition detection unit 2150 may include administration detectionlogic 2140 or a wireless receiver 2176 configured to respond to raw data410, event indications 440 or other data distillations 450, or otherdata 530, 2161, 2162 (in database 2181, e.g.) as described herein.Alternatively or additionally, event/condition detection unit 2150 mayinclude one or more instances of modules for obtaining an indication ofa medical expense signaling an apparent noncompliance 2186, modules forverifying that a therapeutic regimen remains in effect for an individual2189, or modules for logic updates 2163 (as a software configuration orcircuitry invocation, e.g.) as described herein. In some variants,moreover, administration detection logic 2140 may include one or moreinstances of modules for detecting an actuation in a vessel 2141,modules for obtaining an indication of an inhalation of bioactivematerial 2142, modules for obtaining a wireless indication whether avessel has been ingested 2143, modules for recording when a vessel moved2145, modules for evaluating timeliness of an event 2146 (anadministration or apparent presence of a device at a toilet, e.g.); ormodules for obtaining a test result of a sample extracted from anindividual 2147.

With reference now to FIG. 22, shown is a system 2200 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented. As explained below, one or moreevent/condition detection units 2150 or other response modules 2010,2250 may include one or more inquiry modules 2223, 2224, 2225; actuatorinterfaces 2250 configured to respond to an input device 178 (keypad,microphone, button 835, or lever, e.g.) or to control or respond to amechanical component 130 (flush actuator 2283, e.g.) via a wirelesslinkage 2243 or a mechanical linkage 2244; recording systems 2230; imagerecognition modules 2258 or other pattern recognition logic 2260 orcondition detection modules 2291, 2292. In some configurations, one ormore processors 2271, 2272 may generate guidance 2297 (instructions 478to a technician 361 or other consultant, e.g.) or implement such controlor other response configurations in response to a device state 173 (of amicro-battery 182 or other battery 2275, e.g.) or to one or morepreferences 2221, demographic attributes 750 or other determinants 760,or other attributes 2222 of a subject 382. Alternatively oradditionally, such response may depend upon one or more of actuationsignals 2241 (manifesting an actuation command or signal from anactuation sensor 2242, e.g.); image data 424 or other raw data 410 (fromone or more cameras 2232 or other sensors 2233, 2234, e.g.); orcomponents from a data record 2235 (a capsule identifier 2236 withdosages or material components 534 or sensor specifications or otherrelated data 2237 indicative of a product 150, e.g.) or otherindications 2295 as described herein.

With reference now to FIG. 23, shown is a frequency domain energydistribution 2300 in which a received signal 2330 (from a wirelessreceiver as described herein, e.g.) is plotted on a linear vertical axis2301 representative of amplitude and a logarithmic horizontal axis 2302representative of frequency. Signal 2330 has peaks 2351, 2352 atrespective particular nominal frequencies interspersed among severalreference frequencies 2361, 2362, 2363, 2364 bounding frequency ranges2371, 2372, 2373, 2374, 2377, 2378 as shown. As shown referenceamplitude 2342 is intermediate in magnitude, smaller than the amplitude2341 of the highest peak 2351 of signal 2330 but larger than theamplitude 2343 of smaller peak 2352.

With reference now to FIG. 24, shown is a system 2400 in which one ormore technologies may be implemented. In some contexts a product 2410(e.g. a single ingestible capsule 491) may contain two or more circuits2401, 2402 each configured to respond to incoming energy 2408 atrespective nominal resonance frequencies 2421, 2422 that differ by atleast 10-50%, or optionally by one or more orders of magnitude. In somecontexts an antenna 2411 that resonates (at least) at a “lower”frequency 2421 can be configured to detect whether incident energy 2408contains a wireless signal 2431 that successfully passes through region2430, for example, and an antenna 2412 that resonates (at least) at a“higher” frequency 2422 can be configured to detect whether incidentenergy 2408 contains a wireless signal 2432 that successfully passesthrough region 2430. In such contexts, evaluation module 2460 can beconfigured to use the simultaneous presence of both wireless signal 2431and wireless signal 2432 as a noncompliance indication 2473 (a regimennoncompliance determination 688 or other compliance-negative indication689, e.g.) to be transmitted or recorded. Alternatively or additionally,evaluation module 2460 can be configured to generate acompliance-positive indication 687 (indicative of compliance with aregimen of capsule ingestion, e.g.) in response to circuit 2401receiving a lower-frequency wireless signal 2431 during a period (ofseveral minutes or hours, e.g.) in which circuit 2401 does not receive ahigher-frequency wireless signal (as determinant 2474, e.g.).

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for receiving energy at selected frequencies and fordetermining whether such energy contains a signal to implementregimen-specific or other criteria 2454 as described herein withoutundue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,463,700 (“Codedivision multiple access wireless system with closed loop mode usingninety degree phase rotation and beamformer verification”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,203,245 (“Symbol boundary detector method and device for OFDMsystems”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,983,305 (“Apparatus and method fortransmitting and receiving wireless packet data”); U.S. Pat. No.7,956,734 (“Wireless tag reader/writer apparatus”); U.S. Pat. No.7,965,798 (“Robust packet detection, symbol timing, channel lengthestimation and channel response estimation for wireless systems”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,936,713 (“Hierarchical data collection network supportingpacketized voice communications among wireless terminals andtelephones”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,835,319 (“System and method foridentifying wireless devices using pulse fingerprinting and sequenceanalysis”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,839,153 (“Communicating with an implantedwireless sensor”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,713,200 (“Wireless beacon fortime-reversal acoustics, method of use and instrument containingthereof”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,944,886 (“Infrastructure-based enablingindication for dynamic frequency selection in wireless networks”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,294,105 (“System and method for a wireless medicalcommunication system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,844,687 (“Method forinternetworked hybrid wireless integrated network sensors (WINS)”).

In some variants, a single ingestible capsule 910, 1153 (product 2410,e.g.) may contain two or more circuits 2402, 2403 each configured totransmit energy 2409 at respective nominal resonance frequencies 2422,2423 that differ by at least 10-50%, or optionally by one or more ordersof magnitude. In some contexts an antenna 2412 that resonates (at least)at a “lower” frequency 2422 can be configured to enable one or moredecision modules 2027 to determine whether such energy 921, 2409contains a wireless signal 2432 that successfully passes through region2430, for example, and an antenna 2413 that resonates (at least) at a“higher” frequency 2423 can be configured to enable one or more decisionmodules 2027 to determine whether such energy 921, 2409 contains awireless signal 2433 that successfully passes through region 2430. Insome variants, for example, one or more such circuitries 2401-2403 mayeach be configured as a passive wireless transponder 492, for example,or active logic powered by a micro-battery 182 or by other suitableconfigurations: see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,625 (“Thin film batteryand method for making same”) and U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0143787 (“Method andsystem for providing electrical pulses for neuromodulation of vagusnerve(s), using rechargeable implanted pulse generator”). Alternativelyor additionally, one or more circuits 2401, 2402 configured to receiveenergy 2408 may be combined with one or more circuits 2403 configured totransmit energy 2409 in any combination that permits a determination ofwhether region 2430 selectively blocks energy 2408, 2409 containing asignal 2432, 2433 in a higher-frequency range (range 2374, e.g.). Insome variants, product 2410 may be configured as a single microchip (inan ingestible capsule, e.g.) that contains two or more such antennas2411-2413. This can occur, for example, in a context in which an opaquecapsule 491 containing such a microchip is packaged (with a therapeuticcomponent 181, e.g.) in a vessel 160 containing several look-alikecapsules (resembling the “smart” capsules but not containing their samemicrochip, e.g.).

Alternatively or additionally, application module 110 may include one ormore instances of code 101-104 executable by processor 115 as describedherein to detect and act upon a region 2430 preferentially allowingpassage of a lower-frequency signal, and blocking some or all energy ina higher-frequency signal, as an indication of ingestion 2445 or ofimplantation. Application module 110 may likewise be configured toinvoke circuitry as described herein for transmitting energy 2408(interrogation signal 141, e.g.) through a region 2430 of interest to acapsule or other object (device 860, e.g.) that may or may not containspecific wireless communication circuitry (circuits 2401-2403 asdescribed above, e.g.). In some contexts a wireless reply signal 142 maybe recognized as an indication that a specific device (product 2410,e.g.) is in a region 2430 of interest (in bowl 830, e.g.) if replysignal 142 has a characteristic frequency 2361, 2362 or otherrecognizable attribute (a digitally-encoded capsule identifier 2236,e.g.) specific to product 2410. In such contexts reply signal 142 mayalso include a regimen-negative indication 689 (if its energydistribution has one or more peaks 2352 larger than amplitude 2343 in ahigher frequency range 2373, 2378, e.g.) or a regimen-positiveindication 687 (if its energy distribution has no peaks larger thanamplitude 2342 in a higher frequency range 2374, e.g.). In some variantsthe probative value of such indications may be enhanced by one or morethermal or pH measurements 2446 or images or other results 2447 asindications of administration 2440 of a therapeutic material or normalcyindications 2471, 2472 or other compliance-status-indicative data 2478that can be distilled according to one or more criteria 623, 624(various distilling operations described herein, e.g.). Alternatively oradditionally, a microchip 2450 implementing product 2410 may beconfigured to include one or more light-emitting diodes orphotodetectors 2452 for transmitting or detecting optical energy 2408,2409 effectively to facilitate a frequency transmissivitycharacterization of region 2430 (by using infrared energy instead of orin addition to radio frequency energy, e.g.)

In some embodiments, output device 276 may indicate an occurrence of oneor more flows of FIGS. 14-19 concisely as a decision, an evaluation, aneffect, an hypothesis, a probability, a notification, or some otheruseful technical result. For example, such “indicating” may comprisesuch modes as showing, signifying, acknowledging, updating, explaining,associating, or the like in relation to any past or ongoing performanceof such actions upon the common item(s) as recited. Such indicating mayalso provide one or more specifics about the occurrence: the parties ordevice(s) involved, a description of the method or performance modesused, any sequencing or other temporal aspects involved, indications ofresources used, location(s) of the occurrence, implementation versionindications or other update-indicative information, or any other suchcontextual information that may be worthwhile to provide at potentialoutput destinations.

Concise indication may occur, for example, in a context in which atleast some items of data 231-242 do not matter, or in which a recipientmay understand or access portions of data 231-242 without receiving apreemptive explanation of how it was obtained. By distilling one or moreoutputs 251-256 at an “upstream” stage (which may comprise integratedcircuit 274, for example, in some arrangements), downstream-stage media(such as other elements of network 290, for example) may indicateoccurrences of various methods described herein more effectively.Variants of such flows, for example, may be enhanced by distillationsdescribed herein, especially in bandwidth-limited transmissions,security-encoded messages, long-distance transmissions, complex images,or compositions of matter bearing other such expressions.

In some variants, a local implementation comprises a service operablefor accessing a remote system running a remote implementation. In someembodiments, such “accessing” may include one or more instances ofestablishing or permitting an interaction between the server and a localembodiment such that the local embodiment causes or uses anotherimplementation or output of one or more herein-described functions atthe server. Functioning as a web browser, remote terminal session, orother remote activation or control device, for example, interface(s) 270may interact with one or more primary system users via input and outputdevices 276, 278 so as to manifest an implementation in primary system200 via an interaction with server 294, for example, running a secondaryimplementation of one or more flows 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900.Such local implementations may comprise a visual display supporting alocal internet service to the remote server, for example. Such a remoteserver may control or otherwise enable one or more instances of hardwareor software operating the secondary implementation outside a system,network, or physical proximity of primary system 200. For a buildingimplementing primary system 200, for example, “remote” devices mayinclude those in other countries, in orbit, or in adjacent buildings. Insome embodiments, “running an implementation” may include invoking oneor more instances of software, hardware, firmware, or the likeatypically constituted or adapted to facilitate methods or functions asdescribed herein. For example, primary system 200 running animplementation of a flow described herein may be a remote activation ofa special-purpose computer program resident on server 294 via aninternet browser session interaction through linkage 250, mediated byinput device 278 and output device 276.

In some variants, some or all of components 210-216 and 221-226 may beborne in various data-handling elements—e.g., in one or more instancesof storage devices 287, in memories 288 or volatile media, passingthrough linkage 250 with network 290 or other conduits 286, in one ormore registers or data-holding devices 289, or the like. For example,such processing or configuration may occur in response to user data orthe like received at input device 278 or may be presented at outputdevice 276. Instances of input devices 278 may (optionally) include oneor more instances of cameras or other optical devices, hand-held systemsor other portable systems, keypads, sensors, or the like as describedherein. Output device(s) 276 may likewise include one or more instancesof image projection modules, touch screens, wrist-wearable systems orthe like adapted to be worn while in use, headphones and speakers,eyewear, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), actuators, lasers, organic orother light-emitting diodes, phosphorescent elements, portions of(hybrid) input devices 278, or the like.

A device-detectable implementation of variants described herein withreference to flows depicted in FIGS. 14-19, for example, may be dividedinto several components 210-216 and 221-226 carried by one or moreinstances of active modules such as signal repeaters 291, communicationsatellites 293, servers 294, processors 295, routers 297, or the like.For example, in some embodiments, component 211 may be borne by an“upstream” module (e.g., repeater 291 or the like) while or aftercomponent 210 is borne in a “downstream” module (e.g., another instanceof repeater 291, communication satellite 293, server 294, or the like).Such downstream modules may “accept” such bits or other portions ofimplementation 202 or implementation 204 sequentially, for example, suchas by amplifying, relaying, storing, checking, or otherwise processingwhat was received actively. Sensors and other “upstream” modules maylikewise “accept” raw data, such as by measuring physical phenomena oraccessing one or more databases.

In some embodiments, a medium bearing data (or other such event) may be“caused (directly or indirectly) by one or more instances of prior orcontemporaneous measurements, decisions, transitions, circumstances, orother causal determinants. Any such event may likewise depend upon oneor more other prior, contemporaneous, or potential determinants, invarious implementations as taught herein. In other words, such eventsmay occur “in response” to both preparatory (earlier) events andtriggering (contemporaneous) events in some contexts.

In some embodiments, such integrated circuits 274 may comprisetransistors, capacitors, amplifiers, latches, converters, or the like ona common substrate of a semiconductor material, operable to performcomputational tasks or other transformations. An integrated circuit maybe application-specific (“ASIC”) in that it is designed for a particularuse rather than for general purpose use. An integrated circuit maylikewise include one or more instances of memory circuits, processors,field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA's), antennas, or other components,and may be referred to as a system-on-a-chip (“SoC”).

In some embodiments, one or more instances of integrated circuits orother processors may be configured to perform auditory patternrecognition. In FIG. 2, for example, instances of the one or more inputdevices 278 may include a microphone or the like operable to provideauditory samples in data 231-242. Some form or portion of such outputmay be provided remotely, for example, to one or more instances ofneural networks or other configurations of remote processors 295operable to perform automatic or supervised speech recognition,selective auditory data retention or transmission, or other auditorypattern recognition, upon the samples. Alternatively or additionallysuch sound-related data may include annotative information relatingthereto such as a capture time or other temporal indications, capturelocation or other source information, language or other contentindications, decibels or other measured quantities, pointers to relateddata items or other associative indications, or other data aggregationsor distillations as described herein.

In some embodiments, one or more instances of integrated circuits orother processors may be configured for optical image patternrecognition. In FIG. 2, for example, instances of lenses 271 or otherinput devices 278 may include optical sensors or the like operable toprovide one or more of geometric, hue, or optical intensity informationin data 231-242. Some form or portion of such output may be providedlocally, for example, to one or more instances of optical characterrecognition software, pattern recognition processing resources, or otherconfigurations of integrated circuits 274 operable to perform automaticor supervised image recognition, selective optical data retention ortransmission, or the like. Alternatively or additionally suchimage-related data may include annotative information relating theretosuch as a capture time or other temporal indications, capture locationor other source information, language or other content indications,pointers to related data items or other associative indications, orother data aggregations or distillations as described herein.

In some embodiments, one or more instances of integrated circuits orother processors may be configured to perform linguistic patternrecognition. In FIG. 25, for example, instances of input devices 278 mayinclude keys, pointing devices, microphones, sensors, reference data, orthe like operable to provide spoken, written, or other symbolicexpressions in data 231-242. Some form or portion of such output may beprovided locally, for example, to one or more instances of translationutilities, compilers, or other configurations of integrated circuits 274operable to perform automatic or supervised programming or otherlanguage recognition, selective linguistic data retention ortransmission, or the like. Alternatively or additionally suchlanguage-related data may include annotative information relatingthereto such as a capture time or other temporal indications, capturelocation or other source information, language or other contentindications, pointers to related data items or other associativeindications, or other data classifications, aggregations, ordistillations as described herein.

In some embodiments, one or more antennas 275 or receivers 273 mayinclude a device that is the receiving end of a communication channel asdescribed herein. For example, such a receiver may gather a signal froma dedicated conduit or from the environment for subsequent processingand/or retransmission. As a further example, such antennas or otherreceivers may include one or more instances of wireless antennas, radioantennas, satellite antennas, broadband receivers, digital subscriberline (DSL) receivers, modem receivers, transceivers, or configurationsof two or more such devices for data reception as described herein orotherwise known.

In one variant, two or more respective portions of output data 231-242may be sent from server 294 through respective channels at varioustimes, one portion passing through repeater 291 and another throughrouter 297. Such channels may each bear a respective portion of a dataaggregation or extraction, a publication, a comparative analysis ordecision, a record selection, digital subscriber content, statistics orother research information, a resource status or potential allocation,an evaluation, an opportunity indication, a test or computationalresult, or some other output 251-256 of possible interest. Suchdistributed media may be implemented as an expedient or efficient modeof bearing such portions of output data to a common destination such asinterface 270 or holding device 289. Alternatively or additionally, somesuch data may be transported by moving a medium (carried on storagedevice 287, for example) so that only a small portion (a purchase orother access authorization, for example, or a contingent or supplementalmodule) is transferred via linkage 250.

In some embodiments, one or more instances of signal repeaters 291 mayinclude a device or functional implementation that receives a signal andtransmits some or all of the signal with one or more of an alteredstrength or frequency, or with other modulation (e.g., anoptical-electrical-optical amplification device, a radio signalamplifier or format converter, a wireless signal amplifier, or thelike). A repeater may convert analog to digital signals or digital toanalog signals, for example, or perform no conversion. Alternatively oradditionally, a repeater may reshape, retime or otherwise reorder anoutput for transmission. A repeater may likewise introduce a frequencyoffset to an output signal such that the received and transmittedfrequencies are different. A repeater also may include one or moreinstances of a relay, a translator, a transponder, a transceiver, anactive hub, a booster, a noise-attenuating filter, or the like.

In some embodiments, such communication satellite(s) 293 may beconfigured to facilitate telecommunications while in a geosynchronousorbit, a Molniya orbit, a low earth orbit, or the like. Alternatively oradditionally, a communication satellite may receive or transmit, forexample, telephony signals, television signals, radio signals, broadbandtelecommunications signals, or the like.

In some variants, processor 295 or any components 210-216 and 221-226 ofimplementations 201-206 may (optionally) be configured to perform flowvariants as described herein with reference to FIGS. 14-19. Anoccurrence of such a variant can be expressed as a computation, atransition, or as one or more other items of data 231-242 describedherein. Such output 251-256 can be generated, for example, by depictedcomponents of primary system 200 or network 290 including one or morefeatures as described with reference to FIGS. 5-13.

With reference now to FIG. 25, shown is an example of another systemthat may serve as a context for introducing one or more processes,systems or other articles described herein. As shown system 2500comprises one or more instances of writers 2501, processors 2503,controls 2505, software or other implementations 2507, invokers 2512,compilers 2514, outputs 2516, coding modules 2518, or the like with oneor more media 2590 bearing expressions or outputs thereof. In someembodiments, such media may include distributed media bearing a dividedor otherwise distributed implementation or output. For example, in someembodiments, such media may include two or more physically distinctsolid-state memories, two or more transmission media, a combination ofsuch transmission media with one or more data-holding media configuredas a data source or destination, or the like.

In some embodiments, transmission media may be “configured” to bear anoutput or implementation (a) by causing a channel in a medium to conveya portion thereof or (b) by constituting, adapting, addressing, orotherwise linking to such media in some other mode that depends upon oneor more atypical traits of the partial or whole output orimplementation. Data-holding elements of media may likewise be“configured” to bear an output or implementation portion (a) by holdingthe portion in a storage or memory location or (b) by constituting,adapting, addressing, or otherwise linking to such media in some othermode that depends upon one or more atypical traits of the partial orwhole output or implementation. Such atypical traits may include a name,address, portion identifier, functional description, or the likesufficient to distinguish the output, implementation, or portion from ageneric object.

In some embodiments described herein, “logic” and similarimplementations can include software or other control structuresoperable to guide device operation. Electronic circuitry, for example,can manifest one or more paths of electrical current constructed andarranged to implement various logic functions as described herein. Insome embodiments, one or more media are “configured to bear” adevice-detectable implementation if such media hold or transmit aspecial-purpose device instruction set operable to perform a novelmethod as described herein. Alternatively or additionally, in somevariants, an implementation may include special-purpose hardware orfirmware components or general-purpose components executing or otherwiseinvoking special-purpose components. Specifications or otherimplementations may be transmitted by one or more instances oftransmission media as described herein, optionally by packettransmission or otherwise by passing through distributed media atvarious times.

In some embodiments, one or more of the coding modules 2518 may beconfigured with circuitry for applying, imposing, or otherwise using asyntactic or other encoding constraint in forming, extracting, orotherwise handling respective portions of the device-detectableimplementation or output. In encoding a software module or other messagecontent, for example, compiler 2514 or coding module 2518 may implementone or more such constraints pursuant to public key or other encryption,applying error correction modes, certifying or otherwise annotating themessage content, or implementing other security practices describedherein or known by those skilled in the art. Alternatively oradditionally, another instance of coding module 2518 may be configuredto receive data (via receiver 273, e.g.) and decode or otherwise distillthe received data using one or more such encoding constraints. Compiler2514 may, in some variants, convert one or more of components 210-216and 221-226 from a corresponding source code form before thecomponent(s) are transmitted across linkage 250.

System 2500 may be implemented, for example, as one or more instances ofstand-alone workstations, servers, vehicles, portable devices, removablemedia 2520, as components of primary system 200 or network 290 (of FIG.2), or the like. Alternatively or additionally, media 2590 may includeone or more instances of signal repeaters 291, communication satellites293, servers 294, processors 295, routers 297, portions of primarysystem 200 as shown, or the like.

Media 2590 may include one or more instances of removable media 2520,tapes or other storage media 2526; parallel (transmission) media 2530;disks 2544; memories 2546; other data-handling media 2550; serial media2560; interfaces 2570; or expressions 2589, 2599. Removable media 2520can bear one or more device-detectable instances of instructionsequences 2522 or other implementations of flows described herein, forexample. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, removablemedia 2520 can bear alphanumeric data, audio data, image data,structure-descriptive values, or other content 2524 in a context thatindicates an occurrence of one or more flows shown in FIGS. 14-19. Insome circumstances, transmission media may bear respective portions ofimplementations as described herein serially or otherwisenon-simultaneously. In some variants in which two portions 2597, 2598constitute a partial or complete software implementation or product of anovel method described herein, portion 2597 may follow portion 2598successively through serial media 2563, 2565, 2567 (with transmission ofportion 2597 partly overlapping in time with transmission of portion2598 passing through medium 2563, for example). As shown, parallelchannels 2531, 2532 are respectively implemented at least in media 2537,2538 of a bus or otherwise effectively in isolation from one another. Insome embodiments, a bus may be a system of two or more signal paths—notunified by a nominally ideal conduction path between them—configured totransfer data between or among internal or external computer components.For example, one data channel may include a power line (e.g., as medium2565) operable for transmitting content of the device-detectableimplementation as described herein between two taps or other terminals(e.g., as media 2563, 2567 comprising a source and destination). Inanother such configuration, one or more media 2537 of channel 2531 maybear portion 2597 before, while or after one or more other media 2538 ofparallel channel 2532 bear portion 2598. In some embodiments, such aprocess may occur “while” another process occurs if they coincide orotherwise overlap in time substantially (by several clock cycles, forexample). In some embodiments, such a process may occur “after” an eventif any instance of the process begins after any instance of the eventconcludes, irrespective of other instances overlapping or the like.

In a variant in which a channel through medium 2550 bears an expression2555 partially implementing an operational flow described herein, theremainder of the implementation may be borne (earlier or later, in someinstances) by the same medium 2550 or by one or more other portions ofmedia 2590 as shown. In some embodiments, moreover, one or more controls2505 may configure at least some media 2590 by triggering transmissionsas described above or transmissions of one or more outputs 2516 thereof.

In some embodiments, the one or more “physical media” may include one ormore instances of conduits, layers, networks, static storagecompositions, or other homogenous or polymorphic structures orcompositions suitable for bearing signals. In some embodiments, such a“communication channel” in physical media may include a signal pathbetween two transceivers or the like. A “remainder” of the media mayinclude other signal paths intersecting the communication channel orother media as described herein. In some variants, another exemplarysystem comprises one or more physical media 2590 constructed andarranged to receive a special-purpose sequence 2582 of two or moredevice-detectable instructions 2584 for implementing a flow as describedherein or to receive an output of executing such instructions. Physicalmedia 2590 may (optionally) be configured by writer 2501, transmitter272, or the like.

In some embodiments, such a “special-purpose” instruction sequence mayinclude any ordered set of two or more instructions directly orindirectly operable for causing multi-purpose hardware or software toperform one or more methods or functions described herein: source code,macro code, controller or other machine code, or the like. In someembodiments, an implementation may include one or more instances ofspecial-purpose sequences 2582 of instructions 2584, patches or otherimplementation updates 2588, configurations 2594, special-purposecircuit designs 2593, or the like. Such “designs,” for example, mayinclude one or more instances of a mask set definition, a connectivitylayout of one or more gates or other logic elements, anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a multivariate transferfunction, or the like.

Segments of such implementations or their outputs may (optionally) bemanifested one or more information-bearing static attributes comprisingthe device-detectable implementation. Such attributes may, in someembodiments, comprise a concentration or other layout attribute ofmagnetic or charge-bearing elements, visible or other optical elements,or other particles in or on a liquid crystal display or othersolid-containing medium. Solid state data storage modules or other suchstatic media may further comprise one or more instances of lasermarkings, barcodes, human-readable identifiers, or the like, such as toindicate one or more attributes of the device-detectable implementation.Alternatively or additionally such solid state or other solid-containingmedia may include one or more instances of semiconductor devices orother circuitry, magnetic or optical digital storage disks, dynamic orflash random access memories (RAMs), or the like. Magnetoresistive RAMsmay bear larger implementation or output portions or aggregations safelyand efficiently, moreover, and without any need for motors or the likefor positioning the storage medium.

Segments of such implementations or their outputs may likewise bemanifested in electromagnetic signals 2586, laser or other opticalsignals 2591, electrical signals 2592, or the like. In some embodiments,for example, such electrical or electromagnetic signals may include oneor more instances of static or variable voltage levels or other analogvalues, radio frequency transmissions or the like. In some embodiments,the above-mentioned “optical” signals may likewise include one or moreinstances of time- or position-dependent, device-detectable variationsin hue, intensity, or the like. Alternatively or additionally, portionsof such implementations or their outputs may manifest as one or moreinstances of magnetic, magneto-optic, electrostatic, or other physicalconfigurations 2528 of nonvolatile storage media 2526 or as externalimplementation access services 2572.

In some embodiments, physical media can be configured by being “operatedto bear” or “operated upon to bear” a signal. For example, they mayinclude physical media that generate, transmit, conduct, receive, orotherwise convey or store a device-detectable implementation or outputas described herein. Such conveyance or storing of a device-detectableimplementation or output may be carried out in a distributed fashion atvarious times or locations, or such conveyance or storing of adevice-detectable implementation or output may be done at one locationor time. As discussed above, such physical media “operated to bear” or“operated upon to bear” may include physical media that are atypicallyconstituted or adapted to facilitate methods or functions as describedherein.

In some configurations, one or more output devices 276 may present oneor more results of transmitting the indication of the incentive to theindividual to a putative provider of the therapeutic component inresponse to interface(s) 270 receiving one or more invocations oroutputs of an implementation of this function via linkage 250. Such an“invocation” may, in some embodiments, comprise one or more instances ofrequests, hardware or software activations, user actions, or otherdeterminants as described herein. Alternatively or additionally, in someembodiments, one or more input devices 278 may later receive one or moreinvocations or results of transmitting the indication of the incentiveto the individual to a putative provider of the therapeutic component.In contexts like these, processor 295 or other components of network 290may likewise constitute a secondary implementation having access to aprimary instance of interface 270 implementing methods described herein.

Serial media 2560 comprises a communication channel of two or more mediaconfigured to bear a transition or other output increment successively.In some embodiments, for example, serial media 2560 may include acommunication line or wireless medium (e.g., as medium 2565) between twosignal-bearing conduits (e.g., terminals or antennas as media 2563,2567). Alternatively or additionally, one or more lenses 271 or otherlight-transmissive media may comprise, a serial medium between alight-transmissive medium and a sensor or other light receiver 273 ortransmitter 272. In some embodiments, such “light-transmissive” mediamay (optionally) comprise metamaterials or other media operable forbearing one or more instances of microwave signals, radiowave signals,visible light signals, or the like.

In some embodiments, such a lens may be an optical element that causeslight to converge or diverge along one or more signal paths. Such alight-transmissive medium may include a signal-bearing conduit, glass,or other physical medium through which an optical signal may travel.More generally, a signal-bearing conduit may be an electrical wire, atelecommunications cable, a fiber-optic cable, or a mechanical couplingor other path for the conveyance of analog or digital signals.

Alternatively or additionally, system 2500 may likewise include one ormore instances of media for handling implementations or their outputs:satellite dishes or other reflectors 277, antennas 275 or othertransducers 2575, arrays of two or more such devices configured todetect or redirect one or more incoming signals, caching elements orother data-holding elements (e.g., disks 2544, memories 2546, or othermedia 2590), integrated circuits 274, or the like. In some variants, oneor more media may be “configured” to bear a device-detectableimplementation as described herein by being constituted or otherwisespecially adapted for that type of implementation at one or morerespective times, overlapping or otherwise. Such “signal-bearing” mediamay include those configured to bear one or more such signals at varioustimes as well as those currently bearing them.

In some embodiments, such caching elements may comprise a circuit ordevice configured to store data that duplicates original values storedelsewhere or computed earlier in time. For example, a caching elementmay be a temporary storage area where frequently-accessed data may beheld for rapid access by a computing system. A caching element likewisemay be machine-readable memory (including computer-readable media suchas random access memory or data disks). In some embodiments, suchcaching elements may likewise comprise a latching circuit or deviceconfigured to store data that has been modified from original valuesassociated with the data (held elsewhere or computed earlier in time,for example).

In one variant, respective portions 2595, 2596 of an expression 2599 ofimplementation 2507 may be sent through respective channels at varioustimes. Invoker 2512 may request or otherwise attempt to activate acomputer program or streaming media overseas via a telephone cable orother channel 2531. Meanwhile, output 2516 may attempt to trigger asession or other partial implementation 2552, success in which may beindicated by receiving expression 2555 into a visual display or othermedium 2550. Such a program or other implementation may be madecomplete, for example, once both of these attempts succeed.

In some embodiments, transducer(s) 2575 may comprise one or more devicesthat convert a signal from one form to another form. For example, atransducer may be a cathode ray tube that transforms electrical signalsinto visual signals. Another example of a transducer comprises amicroelectromechanical systems (“MEMS”) device, which may be configuredto convert mechanical signals into electrical signals (or vice versa).

With reference now to flow 2600 of FIG. 26 and to other flows describedabove, one or more operations of 10-16 may each (optionally) include orrelate to one or more instances of operation 2612, operation 2616, oroperation 2618 as described below. Such a “preparatory” operation may becarried out, for example, by one or more response modules or otherdetection logic (implemented in one or more products 150 or components210-216 or interaction units 375, e.g.) configured to invoke, modulate,or otherwise influence one or more other components described herein.

Operation 2612 describes conditioning an output upon receivingradio-frequency energy (e.g. one or more processors 115, 655 executingan instruction sequence 693 for triggering a switch 145, taking andreporting a measurement 667, or enabling a compliance status indication769 conditionally upon a result of applying one or more evaluationcriteria 611 to at least one component 661 of data 660 derived from oneor more sensors 2167, 2172 configured to detect radio-frequency energy2168). This can occur, for example, in a context in which applicationmodule 110 includes one or more instances of event/condition detectionlogic 2150 or other data handling units capable of distinguishingwhether a particular or other detectable signal has been received bysuch sensor(s) and in which the triggering, reporting, enabling, orother output 251-256 does not occur without such RF energy 2168 havingbeen received. Alternatively or additionally, such output may confirm orbe further conditioned upon other indicia of ingestion, presence in aregion, or other criteria as described herein. In some implementationsof flow 1500, for example, the “first frequency range” may comprise aradio frequency band detectable by an instance of sensor 2167 having a 3dB cutoff frequency of the threshold frequency.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for responding to radio-frequency energy and for generatingconditional control signals as described herein without undueexperimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,657 (“Multi-radio meshnetwork system supporting at least two different wireless communicationstandards and method of controlling the same”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,642(“System and method for determining air interface information for radioresource management in wireless communications”); U.S. Pat. No.7,978,062 (“Medical data transport over wireless life criticalnetwork”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,933,720 (“Biomolecule bonding detectionapparatus using RF wireless energy transmission and method thereof”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,966,263 (“Wireless phone RF presentation instrument withsensor control”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,679,355 (“ ”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,515,556(“System and method for low power radio operation in a wireless packetnetwork”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,026 (“Wireless and powerless sensor andinterrogator”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,852 (“Remote office administrativeand maintenance system for cell sites in a wireless telecommunicationnetwork”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,835,319 (“System and method for identifyingwireless devices using pulse fingerprinting and sequence analysis”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,969,311 (“Multi-path mitigation in rangefinding andtracking objects using reduced attenuation RF technology”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,863,994 (“System and method for increasing radio frequency (RF)microwave inductor-capacitor (LC) oscillator frequency tuning range”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,865 (“RFID reader and range indicating method forthe RFID reader”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,696,821 (“Method and system forextending dynamic range of an RF signal”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,602,754(“Short-range RF access point design enabling services to master andslave mobile devices”).

Operation 2616 describes signaling a passive wireless transponder in acapsule (e.g. a condition detection module 2291 and one or moretransmitters 272, 832 jointly causing a transmission of aradio-frequency interrogation signal 141 to a passive wirelesstransponder 492 within an ingestible capsule 491). This can occur, forexample, in a context in which control module 117 transmits theinterrogation signal 141 to determine whether one or more implants orother products 150 containing a specific configuration of transponderare within a region of interest (near enough to be detected by ahandheld instrument 1350 or other interaction unit 375, e.g.), in whichan expected reply signal 142 simply confirms the presence of such adevice, and in which an absence of a reply signal signifies that no suchdevice is in the region (for operation 11 or 16, e.g.). In somecontexts, the region of interest may include a portion of a subject 382or a stationary location through which a capsule may travel.Alternatively or additionally, a vessel that contains many such capsules(each containing one or two passive wireless transponders) may have somelook-alike “smart” capsules intermixed therewith that can transmit aserial number or measurements 183 in reply signal 142. In some variants,a “smart” capsule may include a micro-battery 182 and be configured totransmit the capsule's configuration, status, or other raw data 410 (orto record them) at regular intervals or upon detectable events duringits passage per vias naturales.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for interacting with a radio-frequency or other passive or lowpower wireless transponder as described herein without undueexperimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,026 (“Wireless andpowerless sensor and interrogator”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,674 (“RFIDdevices for verification of correctness, reliability, functionality andsecurity”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,973,664 (“Closure having RFID and foil”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,941,095 (“LPRF device wake up using wireless tag”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,538,657 (“Radio frequency identification based sensor”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,844,505 (“Automated real-time distributed tag readernetwork”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,630 (“Fuse state indicator systems”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,777,610 (“Radio frequency identification apparatuses”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,629,888 (“RFID device with changeable characteristics”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,989,313 (“Method and apparatus for creating RFIDdevices”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,979,034 (“Architecture for RFID tagreader/writer”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,494 (“Radio frequencyidentification device initializing a memory using an offset voltage”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,051 (“RFID interrogator device”); U.S. Pat. No.7,986,239 (“Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radiofrequency identification (RFID) tagged items”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,025(“Adjustable implant and method of use”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,969,307(“Diagnostic radio frequency identification sensors and applicationsthereof”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,643 (“Tracking systems, passive RFIDs,methods of locating and identifying RFIDs, and methods of trackingitems”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,055 (“Uncontrolled passive radio frequencyidentification tag and system with 3-D positioning”); U.S. Pat. No.7,948,381 (“Reversibly deactivating a radio frequency identificationdata tag”).

Operation 2618 describes detecting a device associated with anindividual (e.g. a logic circuit or other input device 178, in responseto one or more sensors 179, recognizing a person's dispenser 170, cellphone, body contact device 2175, security badge, vehicle, or otherinteraction unit 375 that identifies subject 382 or has a proximity toor other a priori association with subject 382). This can occur, forexample, in a context in which a wireless signal 1034, 1230 is receivedfrom the device, in which the device enters a detection region of suchsensor(s), in which “the user” or “the bearer” is an initiallysufficient identification, and in which one or more images are taken ofthe region (for operation 16, e.g.) to characterize that association(the person in possession of the device, e.g.). Alternatively oradditionally, the detection and association may signal acompliance-positive indication 687 or compliance-negative indication689. A compliance-negative indication may result, for example, in acontext in which a regimen calls for refraining from eating at night andin which the device is a refrigerator or kitchen door. Acompliance-positive indication may conversely result, for example, in acontext in which a regimen calls for exercise and the subject's runningshoes or exercise equipment are monitored.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for associating a device with an individual as describedherein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,781(“Infant and parent matching and security system and method of matchinginfant and parent”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,984,849 (“Portable magnetic stripereader for criminality security applications”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,038(“System for biometric security using a fob”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,734,928(“Secure entry of a user-identifier in a publicly positioned device”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,986,218 (“Sensor devices for structural healthmonitoring”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,154,275 (“Method and apparatus fordetecting individuals using electrical field sensors”); U.S. Pat. No.7,834,766 (“Method and apparatus for tracking objects and people”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,536,188 (“Communication device locating system”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,394,353 (“Modular vehicle key system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,083(“Hand washing compliance detection system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,944,342(“Prescription compliance device and method of using device”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,978,082 (“RFID-based personnel tracking”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,642,895(“Garage door operator having thumbprint identification system”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,910,628 (“Travel system and methods utilizingmulti-application airline passenger cards”).

In some variants, one or more implementations 201-206 may (optionally)be configured to respond to a not-so-smart pill (a capsule 491 lackingcomputational capability, e.g.) having an immersion-responsive structure905 (a barrier 1018 that temporarily prevents a passive wirelesstransponder 492 therein from responding to radio frequency energy 2168until it melts or dissolves, e.g.) or an acid-activated sensor 2164(configured to trigger or enable capsule 491 to transmit a wirelesssignal 1034, 1230 in response to exposure to stomach acid, mucous,stool, or H. pylori, e.g.) or other such structures by which no tag willbe detected (characterized by a lack of a reply signal 142 in responseto a suitable interrogation signal 141 until exposure to a subject'sbody un-masks or activates passive wireless tag 492, e.g.). This canoccur, for example, in a context in which an ex situ device (monitorunit 850 or detection device 1090, e.g.) is configured to detect suchwireless signals or other detectable indicia (raw data or indications ofingestion or compliance, e.g.) in a confined area within which a humanor other subject 382 resides (hospital wards, jails, or nursing homes,e.g.). Alternatively or additionally, such a pill may be configured toalter one or more signal attributes (timing, frequency, or bandwidth ofreply signal 142, e.g.) in response to exposure to a subject's body(indicated by temperature sensor data 422 or chemical sensor data 423 orother raw data 410 indicative of in situ bodily fluids or samples 2015,2017, e.g.).

With reference again to flow 2600 of FIG. 26 and to other flowsdescribed above, one or more operations of 21-26 may each (optionally)include or relate to one or more instances of operation 2693, operation2694, operation 2697, or operation 2699 as described below. Such a“utility” operation may be carried out, for example, by application ordecision logic (implemented in one or more primary components 221-226 ordistillation units 460 or other data handling units responsive to one ormore preparatory operations, e.g.) configured to implement orcommunicate one or more outputs of 251-256 or other useful resultsdescribed herein.

Operation 2693 describes conditioning a regimen noncompliancedetermination upon a determination that a wireless signal in a firstfrequency range below a reference frequency coincided with a presence ofa wireless signal in a second frequency range above the referencefrequency in a vicinity of a capsule (e.g. decision module 2022transmitting a regimen noncompliance determination 688 manifesting as acontrol signal 2052 selectively in response to a “first” signal 2431having a peak 2351 in a “lower” frequency range 2377 and “second” signal2433 having a peak (not shown) in a “higher” frequency range 2373). Thiscan occur, for example, in a context in which such signals havefrequency-spectrum energy components (peaks 2351, 2352, e.g.), in whichdecision module 2022 is configured to ignore such components smallerthan amplitude 2342 (as noise, e.g.), in which primary unit 950receiving the wireless signal in the 1st frequency range (below F_(T),e.g.) signifies that capsule 910 has transmitted the wireless signals(in response to an immersion of capsule 910 detected by a pressuresensor or other immersion-responsive structure 905, e.g.), and in whichprimary unit 950 receiving the wireless signal in the 2nd frequencyrange (above F_(T), e.g.) signifies that the indication of ingestion isapparently fraudulent (the capsule having been immersed but notingested, e.g.). In some variants, for example, in a region 2430containing product 2410 (as a “vicinity of a capsule,” e.g.), eitherincident energy 2408 or transmitted energy 2409 may contain the “first”and “second” signals within respective ranges and the respectiveconditions “coincided” by existing in an overlapping regioncontemporaneously (within 0.1 or 1 or 10 seconds or 1 or 10 minutes,e.g.). Alternatively or additionally, response module 2010 may implementa data handling unit 610 configured to receive data from a capsule 491or device 860 that implements product 2410. Moreover in someimplementations of decision module 2024 (software, e.g.), thecompliance-positive indication may also depend upon whether the incidentenergy 2408 containing the signal(s) exhibited an absence of arecognizable wireless signal in at least one such higher-frequency range2373 for a sustained period (of minutes or hours, e.g.), which mayindicate ingestion or digestion in some contexts.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for using wireless signals for characterizing a region and forindicating whether an individual has complied with a regimen asdescribed herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.7,876,228 (“Method and apparatus for monitoring ingestion of medicationsusing an implantable medical device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,957,984 (“Devicefor facilitating compliance with medication regimen”); U.S. Pat. No.7,822,472 (“Methods and systems for optimizing exercise compliancediagnostic parameters”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,820,108 (“Marker detectionmethod and apparatus to monitor drug compliance”); U.S. Pat. No.7,979,284 (“Interactive video based remote health monitoring system”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,959,540 (“Systems and methods for administering anexercise program”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,564 (“Interactive medicationcontainer”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,956,727 (“Methods and systems formedication management”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,046 (“Device, method andcomputer program product for tracking and monitoring an exerciseregimen”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,779 (“Therapeutic methods usingelectromagnetic radiation”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,901,383 (“Systems andmethods for administering a medical regimen”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,860,583(“System and method for dynamically adjusting patient therapy”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,819,826 (“Implantable thermal treatment method andapparatus”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,747,454 (“System and method for real timemanagement of a drug regimen”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,639,120 (“Prescriptioncompliance device and method of using device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,335(“Communications system for an implantable device and a drugdispenser”).

Operation 2694 describes conditioning a compliance-positive indicationupon a determination that a wireless signal in a first frequency rangebelow a reference frequency coincided with an absence of a wirelesssignal in a second frequency range above the reference frequency in avicinity of a capsule (e.g. decision module 2024 generating a regimencompliance determination 686 selectively in response to signal 2431having a peak 2351 in frequency range 2371 and no recognizable peakbeing detected in one or more higher-frequency ranges 2373, 2374). Thiscan occur, for example, in a context in which such signals havefrequency-spectrum energy components (peaks 2351, 2352, e.g.), in whichdecision module 2024 is configured to ignore such components smallerthan a threshold 2061 (expressed as a percentage between 5% and 95% of anominal maximum amplitude 2341, e.g.), and in which F_(T) is a referencefrequency within range 2372. In some variants, for example, responsemodule 2010 may implement a data handling unit 610 configured to receivedata from a capsule 491 or device 860 that implements product 2410.Moreover in some implementations of decision module 2024 (software,e.g.), the compliance-positive indication may also depend upon whetherthe incident energy 2408 containing the signal(s) exhibited an absenceof a recognizable wireless signal in at least one such higher-frequencyrange 2373 for a sustained period (of minutes or hours, e.g.), which mayindicate ingestion or digestion in some contexts.

Operation 2697 describes conditioning a regimen compliance determinationupon a first compliance-positive indication and upon a secondcompliance-positive indication (e.g. decision module 2021 transmitting apresent-day text or audio message 2042 via interaction unit 375 thatstates “you have met all the requirements of regimen 2001” in responseto timing data 2037 indicating acceptably timely dosage administrationsfor the past week and to a regimen compliance determination 686 of aweek ago). Alternatively or additionally, such “first” and “second”compliance-positive indications 687 may sometimes mutually corroboratethe same event, for example, such as in a context in which operations 10and 11 each produce a respective compliance-positive indication 2071,2072 (that subject 382 has ingested one or more capsules 491, 910 orother devices as articulated by regimen 2001, e.g.). Alternatively oradditionally, one or more of the compliance-positive indications 687 maybe received as a direct reply 2034 to a voice or text query 2032expressing a question like “is subject 382 still taking prednisonedaily?” (in an interchange with a care provider 383 via interaction unit375, e.g.). In some contexts, for example, regimen 2001 may define an80% success rate (at daily or twice-daily doses or monitoring events,e.g.) as “acceptably timely.”

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for generating composite indications of regimen compliance ornoncompliance as described herein without undue experimentation. See,e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,917,377 (“Patient data mining for automatedcompliance”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,752,056 (“Network media access controlsystem for encouraging patient compliance with a treatment plan”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,725,327 (“Computer system and method for generatinghealthcare risk indices using medication compliance information”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,636,667 (“Network media access control system for encouragingpatient compliance with a treatment plan”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,515,734(“Device, system and method for determining compliance with apositioning instruction by a figure in an image”); U.S. Pat. No.6,587,829 (“Method and apparatus for improving patient compliance withprescriptions”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,853,468 (“System and methods forintegrated compliance monitoring”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,382,263 (“Oral drugcompliance monitoring using radio frequency identification tags”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,442,422 (“Compliance monitoring apparatus and method”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,991,628 (“Generating output data based on patientmonitoring”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,058 (“Intelligent wearable monitorsystems and methods”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,830,962 (“Monitoring remotepatients”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,887,599 (“Methods of use of biodegradableinjectable implants”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,937,319 (“Methods and systems forcompliance monitoring knowledge base”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,741,103(“Integrated screening and confirmation device”).

Operation 2699 describes conditioning a regimen noncompliancedetermination upon a first compliance-negative indication and upon asecond compliance-negative indication (e.g. decision module 2023transmitting a text or audio message 2041 via interaction unit 375 thatstates “subject 382 is not meeting the minimum requirements of regimen2002” in response to timing data 2038 indicating N or more missed eventswithin a prescribed interval). This can occur, for example, in a contextin which N is 2 or more, in which the events are dosages or othertherapeutic administrations, in which the prescribed interval is a weekor a month, and in which the “first” and “second” compliance-negativeindications 689 each signify a “missed” dosage or other event specifiedby one or more regimens (research or security protocols, e.g.) definedby a security director, researcher, or other service provider 310.

With reference now to flow 2700 of FIG. 27 and to other flows describedabove, one or more operations of 10-16 may each (optionally) include orrelate to one or more instances of operation 2713 or operation 2719 asdescribed below. Such a “preparatory” operation may be carried out, forexample, by one or more distillation units or other detection logic(implemented in one or more application modules 110 or components210-216 or interaction units 375, e.g.) configured to invoke, modulate,or otherwise influence one or more other components described herein.

Operation 2713 describes transmitting an identifier of a particularcapsule (e.g. one or more distillation modules 435 recording one or moreidentifiers 581, 582 received from or otherwise associated with arespective capsule 491, 910, 1153). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which application module 110 implements a distillation unit460 or other data handling unit 610 operably coupled with one or moremedia 550 and in which some or all such capsules in a dispenser 170 orother vessel 160 each contain a passive wireless transponder 492 tunedto a capsule-specific frequency, a consecutive serial number marking, orsome other device-detectable attribute suitable for distinguishing eachcapsule from other capsules in the vessel. Alternatively oradditionally, one or more distillation modules 434, 435 may implement adistillation protocol 657 configured to cause a recordation of timingdata 538 indicative of a contemporaneous capture of one or more images632, 633 (as one or more pointers 676, 677 to a video clip 642 or otherimage data 424 that depicts a venue or movements of a subject 382 for aperiod of hours or days, e.g.), an indication of ingestion 445, or otherevent indications 440 as described herein. In some contexts, moreover, a“smart” capsule may be configured to perform operation 2713 byidentifying itself in a wireless signal 1034, 1230 responsive to one ormore of detecting several minutes or hours of darkness or immersion inan ambient temperature of about 37° C., a pH change larger than athreshold 561 (of 0.1 or 1, e.g.) or other such chemical transitions 443indicative of prior ingestion, receiving RF energy 2168 into a passivewireless transponder 492, or other such event indications 440 asdescribed herein.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for identifying capsules or other devices as described hereinwithout undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,839,432(“Detector selection for monitoring objects”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,983,682(“Context based connectivity for mobile devices”); U.S. Pat. No.7,952,480 (“RFID tag filtering and monitoring”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,619,819(“Method and apparatus for drug product tracking using encoded opticalidentification elements”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,876,228 (“Method andapparatus for monitoring ingestion of medications using an implantablemedical device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,864 (“Vehicular RFID and sensorassemblies”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,722,521 (“Method and apparatus forautomatic tracking and identification of device components”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,941,534 (“System and method to authenticate users to computersystems”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,983,763 (“Implanted lead sleeve having RFIDtag”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,916,013 (“RFID detection and identificationsystem for implantable medical devices”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,650,888(“Method and system for identification of a medical implant”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,518,502 (“System and method for tracking surgical assets”).

Operation 2719 describes conditioning an output upon a presence of or anabsence of an indication of contraband (e.g. sample tester 119 andcontrol module 117 jointly manifesting a controlled substance ormetabolyte thereof having been detected in a sample 2015 of hair orblood from subject 382 as a regimen noncompliance determination 688, ora lack thereof as a compliance-positive indication 687). Such anindication of contraband may be of interest, for example, at a sportsevent (as a sign of doping, e.g.) or at an airport (as a sign ofsmuggling or of a breach of a quarantine, e.g.) or at a prison or schoolor any other context in which a metal device or other object ofcontraband may constitute a threat (to safety or security, e.g.). Insome variants, for example, such modules may be configured to disable atransistor 146, a flush actuator 2283, or another mechanical component130 (in commode 810, e.g.) conditionally (in response to a preliminaryindication 2074 that a sample 2017 of excrement may contain a parasiteor prohibited material, e.g.). This can occur, for example, in a contextin which the preliminary indication 2074 is easy to implement butsusceptible to a high rate of false positives; in which a more costlyconfirmatory test (with a low rate of false positives, e.g.) cannot beperformed unless such a sample 2017 is preserved; and in which securitypersonnel are available to obtain sample 2017 provided that theexcrement is not flushed. In some contexts, for example, such apreliminary indication 2074 may be inferred from dilated pupils, signsof anxiety or fever (detectable by image recognition module 2258 orother pattern recognition logic 2260, for example, in an image 634,sample clip 643, or other data components 662), or other suchdevice-detectable attributes 2222 of subject 382 (obtained astemperature sensor data 422 or other raw data 410 obtained via a camera2232 or other sensor 2233, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally, one ormore such indications 2074 of contraband can be received from aningestible device 860 or from a detection device (from a care provider383, guard, or other third party, for example, via one or more inputdevices 178, 278).

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for detecting contraband as described herein without undueexperimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,991,213 (“System fordetecting infectious agents using computer-controlled automated imageanalysis”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,560,239 (“Homogeneous enzyme immunoassay forsimultaneous detection of multiple analytes”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,548(“Specimen sample collection device and test system”); U.S. Pat. No.6,740,500 (“Method of screening for non-steroidal neuropsychiatricagents”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,384 (“Apparatus and methods for sortingparticles”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,939 (“Rapid sample collection andanalysis device and methods of use”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,989 (“Methodsof screening agents for activity using teleosts”); U.S. Pat. No.7,550,112 (“Sample collection cup with integrated activatable sampleanalysis system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,798,414 (“Human and scanner readableradiation exposure indicator with reactive barcode”); U.S. Pat. No.7,745,115 (“Method for the surveillance for biological, chemical andradiological agents”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,727 (“Implantable medicaldevice with enhanced biocompatibility and biostability”); U.S. Pat. No.7,351,982 (“Portable nuclear material detector and process”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,836,850 (“Method and system for tracking and managing animalsand/or food products”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,369 (“Distributed biohazardsurveillance system and apparatus for adaptive aerosol collection andsynchronized particulate sampling”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,479,877 (“Methodand system for utilizing multiple sensors for monitoring containersecurity, contents and condition”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,945,393 (“Detectionof pathogenic microorganisms using fused sensor data”).

With reference again to flow 2700 of FIG. 27 and to other flowsdescribed above, one or more operations of 21-26 may each (optionally)include or relate to one or more instances of operation 2791, operation2795, operation 2796, operation 2797, or operation 2798 as describedbelow. Such a “utility” operation may be carried out, for example, byapplication or decision logic (implemented in one or more primarycomponents 221-226 or distillation units 460 or other data handlingunits responsive to one or more preparatory operations, e.g.) configuredto implement or communicate one or more outputs of 251-256 or otheruseful results described herein.

Operation 2791 describes conditioning whether a message is sent uponwhether a temperature exceeds a threshold (e.g. decision module 2026transmitting an order for an antibiotic material component 523 or otherfever-indicative signal 2053 to a nurse, pharmacist, or other materialprovider 381 selectively in response to one or more temperaturemeasurement samplings 673 exceeding a temperature threshold 2063 highenough to constitute a fever). This can occur, for example, in a contextin which a physician selects a threshold 1 or 2 degrees above 37° C. anda regimen 2004 that would otherwise require a human subject 382 to takesuch antibiotics prophylactically, and in which decision module 2026transmits no signal in response to a consistent normalcy indication 2472(indicating a normal body temperature, e.g.) in such samplings 673.Alternatively or additionally, decision module 2026 may be configured tocause a transmission of a compliance-positive indication 687 selectivelyin response to temperature sensor data 422 indicating a temperature highenough (indicating a sensor 2166 in capsule 491 or a sensor 2171 in bodycontact device 2175 exceeding a threshold 2064 a few degrees below 37°C., e.g.) to signify having been ingested by or otherwise put in contactwith subject 382. This can occur, for example, in a context in whichregimen 2004 calls for one or more timely indications of ingestion 2445or temperature measurements. Alternatively or additionally, one or moreimages 1364 in the infrared band can be used to indicate whether aregion 1330 has a temperature high enough (above 37° C., e.g.) toindicate a pressure ulcer or other abnormality detectable as a locallyelevated temperature.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for detecting indications of elevated temperatures asdescribed herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.7,934,836 (“Projector that is capable of superimposing and displaying avisible image and an invisible infrared image”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,866(“Emissivity independent non-contact high temperature measurement systemand method”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,016 (“Device and method for on-dietemperature measurement”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,578 (“Fluid temperaturemeasurement device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,954,994 (“Combinedpressure/temperature sensor having centric temperature measurement”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,775,711 (“Temperature measurement device and measurementmethod”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,046 (“Temperature measurement device”);U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,427 (“Support apparatus with a plurality of thermalzones providing localized cooling”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,254 (“Nearhyperthermic heater wound covering”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,914,564 (“Systemand method for patient temperature control employing temperatureprojection algorithm”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,590,449 (“Patient signalingmethod for treating cardiovascular disease”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,675(“Method and system for agricultural data collection and management”).

Operation 2795 describes causing a door to become locked or unlocked(e.g. a motor 133, relay 147, or other actuator interface 2250configuring a lock 132 on door 131 into a locked state in response to acompliance-negative indication 689 that indicates that subject 382 isapparently not complying with a regimen 781). This can occur, forexample, in a context in which processor 115 invokes code 104 forimplementing one or more criteria 121, 122 of a conventional securityprotocol 120 and in which application module 110 includes a product 150or interaction unit 375 as described herein. In some variants, forexample, detection unit 180 includes one or more sensors 179 configuredto recognize a badge or biometric data 536 associated with an employeeor other authorized individual (subject 382, e.g.) as an instance ofoperation 16 or 2713. Alternatively or additionally, processor 115 canperform operation 2795 by causing lock 132 to be activated until andunless an indication of ingestion 445 is obtained or otherwise inresponse to a regimen noncompliance determination 688 (as a disciplinaryor security measure, e.g.).

In some contexts a capsule or other vessel 490 (including a passivewireless transponder 492 or a micro-battery 182 operatively coupled to atransmitter 272, e.g.) may be configured to transmit temperature sensordata 422, chemical sensor data 423, or other raw data 410 or acomparator output (as an indication of ingestion 445 or contraband,e.g.). This can occur, for example, in a prison, a workplace, or othercontext in which ingress or egress is closely monitored (by a guard whocontrols a door 131 while monitoring a compliance-status-indicativeoutput device 176, e.g.) or in which a control element 140 or mechanicalcomponent 130 (locking or unlocking mechanism, e.g.) is directlycontrolled in response to a compliance-positive indication 687 orcompliance-negative indication 689.

Operation 2796 describes deciding whether a status of an individual hasapparently changed (e.g. decision module 2025 applying one or morestatus-quo-indicative evaluation criteria 612 to determine whether asymptom suffered by a subject 382 has been resolved). This can occur,for example, in a context in which a service provider 310 specifies botha therapeutic material component 534 and a protocol identifier 775 thatspecifies a daily or other monitoring component calling for a query of“was the treatment? . . . press 1 for yes, 2 for somewhat, and 3 forno.” In some contexts, a reply signal 142 received in response to such aquery can be used as a high-prolixity-indicative determinant 767 (if“no,” e.g.) or a low-prolixity-indicative determinant 768 (if “yes,”e.g.) so that a subject 382 or care provider 383 receives a opportunityto elaborate (with an explanatory audio clip 642 of one or more minutesor other suitable resources, e.g.) that is conditional upon a symptomnot having been resolved. Alternatively or additionally, (a monitoringcomponent of) one or more regimens 2001-2004 may include a recordationof one or more measurements or other status indications 2073 inassociation with timing data 2039 (indicating a persistent symptom or atime of its resolution, e.g.).

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for measuring or otherwise documenting an onset, an abatement,or other such events reflecting symptoms of hypertension, diabetes, ormany other such (generally treatable) pathologies. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.No. 7,468,040 (“Methods and systems for implantably monitoring externalbreathing therapy”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,465,273 (“Method for monitoringpre-eclamptic patients”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,796 (“System fordetermining insulin dose using carbohydrate to insulin ratio and insulinsensitivity factor”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,400,257 (“Vital signals andglucose monitoring personal wireless system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,397,380(“Device and method for monitoring state of thermal comfort of a baby atsleep or a partially disabled patient”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,395,216 (“Usingpredictive models to continuously update a treatment plan for a patientin a health care location”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,379,885 (“System and methodfor obtaining, processing and evaluating patient information fordiagnosing disease and selecting treatment”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,364(“Device for optical monitoring of constituent in tissue or body fluidsample using wavelength modulation spectroscopy, such as for bloodglucose levels”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,296 (“Detection of pleuraleffusion using transthoracic impedance”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,108(“Disease management system and method including analysis of diseasespecific changes”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,237 (“Implantable biosensor andmethods for monitoring cardiac health”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,177,686 (“Usingphoto-plethysmography to monitor autonomic tone and performing pacingoptimization based on monitored autonomic tone”); U.S. Pat. No.7,035,684 (“Method and apparatus for monitoring heart function in asubcutaneously implanted device”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,980 (“Automateddiagnostic system and method including disease timeline”); U.S. Pat. No.6,770,029 (“Disease management system and method including correlationassessment”).

Operation 2797 describes distilling historical data indicative of orcontraindicative of a health status transition apparently relating to aninfection in an individual (e.g. processor 655 invoking or otherwiseimplementing one or more distillation criteria 623 effective forselectively retaining one or more normalcy indications 2471, 2472specifically identified by a physician or other care provider 383 asrelating to infection). This can occur, for example, in a context inwhich care provider 383 assigns a specific infection-related monitoringregimen 2003 to subject 382 that results in either a normalcy indication2471 or a recorded thermal transition 442 being associated with subject382. In some variants, for example, such a thermal transition 442 maytrigger an urgent message 2044 to care provider 383 (if it indicates athermal increase above a prescribed threshold 2062, such as 38° C. orhigher in a human patient, e.g.) or an event record 488 in storagemedium 691 (if it indicates a fever has abated, e.g.). Alternatively oradditionally, monitoring regimen 2003 may be configured to make suchnotifications or recordings contingent upon one or more white countsexceeding threshold 2063 (as determined by sample tester 119, e.g.),reply signals 2051 received from another care provider 383 in responseto telephonic or other infection-related queries (“has subject 382 hadchills?” sent via interaction unit 375, e.g.), or other such signals2051 of an onset or abatement of infection.

Operation 2798 describes distilling historical data indicative of orcontraindicative of a health status transition apparently relating tocardiovascular disease in an individual (e.g. condition detection module2292 detecting when and whether blood pressure measurements in a dataseries 695 indicate an onset of hypertension, an abatement ofhypertension, or a lack of change of an individual's hypertensive ornon-hypertensive state). This can occur, for example, in a context inwhich an antihypertensive material component 531 has been prescribed andin which hundreds of measurements in data series 695 can be distilledinto a data plot 694 (of blood pressure vs. time. e.g.) or in a phraselike “normal since last September” or “normal until last September” or“still borderline hypertensive.”

With reference now to flow 2800 of FIG. 28 and to other flows describedabove, one or more operations of 10-16 may each (optionally) include orrelate to one or more instances of operation 2812, operation 2813,operation 2816, or operation 2817 as described below. Such a“preparatory” operation may be carried out, for example, by one or moredistillation units or other detection logic (implemented in one or moreapplication modules 110 or components 210-216 or interaction units 375,e.g.) configured to invoke, modulate, or otherwise influence one or moreother components described herein.

Operation 2812 describes obtaining an indication of an inhalation of abioactive material (e.g. one or more modules for obtaining an indicationof an inhalation of a bioactive material 2142 detecting an auditory orother direct indication of an actuation of an inhaler 1158 or similardispensing device; a presence of an inhalant, metabolyte, or othermarker thereof in a subject's blood; or other such indications of aninhalant dispensed as described herein). This can occur, for example, ina context in which administration detection logic 2140 or otherdetection modules (receiver 831 or monitoring module 1101, e.g.) performone or more operation(s) of 10-16.

Operation 2813 describes obtaining an indication of when at least aportion of a vessel moved (e.g. one or more modules for recording when avessel moved 2145 detecting or receiving timing data 538, 539 indicatinga series of instances when a vessel 160, 1010, 1190 containing abioactive or other therapeutic material moved as an indication that thetherapeutic material was or was not taken pursuant to one or moreregimens 2001-2004). If the regimen required that the therapeuticmaterial be taken with a frequency F but timing data 539 indicates thatthe vessel was opened or moved less frequently than 0.9×F, for example,such a negative indication 689 may justify a regimen noncompliancedetermination 688 or negate a regimen compliance determination 686 thatwould otherwise occur. Suitable logic may include or be configured torespond to accelerometers or any of numerous other suitableimplementation circuitry affixed to or otherwise supported by the vesselthat can readily be implemented in light of teachings herein.Alternatively or additionally, such logic may implement one or moredistillation criteria 621, such as with software or circuitry forcomparing a first image of a visual field with a second image of thevisual field (in successive images 633, 634 or a time-lapse video clip644 of or from the vessel, e.g.) or by causing other distillationmodules 430 described herein to be invoked. In some variants, moreover,operation 2813 may include or be configured to respond to circuitry fordetecting an actuation (of a valve, cap, cover 1181, or other portion ofthe vessel, e.g.).

Operation 2816 describes obtaining an indication whether a vessel hasbeen ingested (e.g. one or more modules for obtaining a wirelessindication whether a vessel has been ingested 2143 detecting a currentmeasurement 554 or other indication of ingestion 445 pertaining to acapsule 910, 1153 or vessel 160, 1010, 1210 as described herein). Thiscan occur, for example, in a context in which such a vessel has one ormore immersion-responsive structures 905, mucosal material sensors 1221,pH sensors 1225, auditory data distillation modules 431 configured todetect a swallowing sound 441, or other such detection features 1185configured to detect one or more of (a) a temperature about equal tothat of a living body; (b) a pH about equal to that of stomach acid; (c)a pH increase indicative of travel through a small intestine and ofearlier ingestion; (d) auditory or optical indicia of ingestion; (e)mucous or mucosa characteristic of an intestine; or (f) an ambientpressure, electrical conductivity, or other device-detectablecharacteristic of immersion in stool or other bodily fluids.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for detecting that something has been ingested as describedherein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,504,954(“Radio frequency identification pharmaceutical tracking system andmethod”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,437,195 (“Regulation of eating habits”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,427,266 (“Method and apparatus for verification ofingestion”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,414,534 (“Method and apparatus formonitoring ingestion of medications using an implantable medicaldevice”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,382,263 (“Oral drug compliance monitoringusing radio frequency identification tags”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,141,016(“Systems and methods for monitoring gastrointestinal system”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,118,531 (“Ingestible medical payload carrying capsule withwireless communication”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,312 (“Combination andmethod including a visual marker for determining compliance with amedication regimen”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,846 (“Devices and methods formonitoring drug therapy compliance”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,801(“Therapeutic agent with quantitative consumption marker”).

Operation 2817 describes obtaining a test result of a sample extractedfrom an individual (e.g. one or more modules for obtaining a test resultof a sample extracted from an individual 2147 detecting an analyte of atherapeutic material or other regimen compliance indication in a bodilyfluid, hair, or other sample extracted from subject 382). This canoccur, for example, in a context in which such a module (including orotherwise in communication with a sample tester 119 having one or moresensors 2169, e.g.) can generate a positive indication 687 indicative ofcompliance, a normalcy indication 2471, a noncompliance indication 2473,or other such go/no-go determinants 2474 or determinations as a resultof applying one or more a priori thresholds 565 indicative of a markeror other material component 534 of the therapeutic material in a bloodor other extracted sample 2165 in a specified concentration (sufficientto indicate normalcy or regimen compliance, e.g.). In some contexts, forexample, administration detection logic 2140 or other detection modulesas described herein may be configured to perform one or moreoperation(s) of 10-16. Alternatively or additionally, a dispenser V37V,capsule 910, 1153 or other such device 860 may be configured tofacilitate such operations by performing operation 2817.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for measuring health-indicative or other relevant physicalproperties from a sample extracted from an individual as describedherein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/343,944 (“Establishing a Biological Recording Timeline byArtificial Marking”) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/343,966(“Using a Biological Recording to Obtain Time Values”). See also U.S.Pat. No. 7,491,493 (“Method and kit for molecular identification ofsmallpox”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,485,472 (“Simple method for quantitativemeasuring the adhesion of platelets ex vivo”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,032(“Device and method for in vitro determination of analyte concentrationswithin body fluids”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,973 (“Methods and compositionsfor the detection of cervical disease”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,364(“Device for optical monitoring of constituent in tissue or body fluidsample using wavelength modulation spectroscopy, such as for bloodglucose levels”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,365 (“Serum biomarkers ofHepatitis B Virus infected liver and methods for detection thereof”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,782 (“Electrochemical detection of ischemia”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,989,891 (“Device and method for in vitro determination ofanalyte concentrations within body fluids”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,884,223(“Method for detecting .alpha.-oxoaldehydes in the whole blood, bloodplasma and/or serum of a patient”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,053 (“Apparatusand method for assaying coagulation in fluid samples”); U.S. Pat. No.6,718,007 (“Using hair to screen for breast cancer”); U.S. Pat. No.6,623,972 (“Automated method for detecting, quantifying and monitoringexogenous hemoglobin in whole blood, plasma and serum”).

With reference again to flow 2800 of FIG. 28 and to other flowsdescribed above, one or more operations of 21-26 may each (optionally)include or relate to one or more instances of operation 2891, operation2894, operation 2895, operation 2898, or operation 2899 as describedbelow. Such a “utility” operation may be carried out, for example, byapplication or decision logic (implemented in one or more primarycomponents 221-226 or distillation units 460 or other data handlingunits responsive to one or more preparatory operations, e.g.) configuredto implement or communicate one or more outputs of 251-256 or otheruseful results described herein.

Operation 2891 describes transmitting a regimen compliance determinationas an actuation signal (e.g. output device 176 transmitting a signal2054 manifesting a regimen compliance determination 686 via a wirelesslinkage 2243 or mechanical linkage 2244 configured to control a switch145 or other mechanical component 130). This can occur, for example, ina context in which one or more components 221-226 signals such adetermination 447 (as an indication of ingestion 445 or other datadistillation 450, e.g.) that triggers signal 2054 that causes a door 131to open or a motor 133 to turn on and in which such mechanicalcomponent(s) would otherwise not move. Alternatively or additionally,output device 176 may manifest a compliance-negative indication 689 bydisabling one or more control elements 140 (that control an automobileor other motor 133, e.g.).

Operation 2894 describes obtaining an indication of an abnormally lateorder for a therapeutic component (e.g. one or more modules forobtaining an indication of a medical expense signaling an apparentnoncompliance 2186 receiving a pointer 677 to a transaction history orother such data 651 indicating that a material provider 381 or otherindividual has not been ordering a requisite quantity of a therapeuticcomponent fast enough to permit compliance with a regimen). This canoccur, for example, in a context in which the indication is a naturallanguage expression (such as “noncompliant” or “indeterminate”) and inwhich such modules are implemented in one or more control modules 880,1220 or other modules that perform one or more operation(s) of 21-26.Raw data, scalar, logical, or other indications may likewise beobtained, however, such as in a context in which such orders arenominally sufficient to provide P treatments for Q individuals(participating in a nutraceutical regimen, e.g.) for a given period ofweeks but in which supplies for fewer than P×Q/2 treatments have beenordered before or during that period of weeks, warranting an inferencethat at least one such individual has apparently not received one ormore requisite treatments of a prescribed regimen within one or moreacceptable time intervals.

Operation 2895 describes determining whether an event occurred within anormal interval of time (e.g. one or more modules for evaluatingtimeliness of an event 2146 causing a comparison of one or more temporalindications 572 of a device-detectable event against one or morenormalcy-indicative thresholds 563). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which the “event” is an order placement or an image captureor a detection of another specific signal as described herein; in whichone or more detection modules 915 generate a pass/fail indication 573 asa result of applying one or more timing thresholds to a timestamp of theevent; in which technician 361 specifies such thresholds 563,indications 572, and correspondences (many-to-one or one-to-many orone-to-one, e.g.); and in which one or more sensors 833, 932, 1228,2169, 2171 or other signal sources provide such timestamps or othertemporal indications.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for determining and recording whether events are happeningwithin a defined interval of time as described herein without undueexperimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,476 (“Device for readingfrom or writing to optical recording media having a control unit for adata slicer”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,106 (“Closed-loop system fordisplaying promotional events and granting awards for electronic videogames”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,330,101 (“Prescription compliance device andmethod of using device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,645 (“Method formonitoring hand hygiene compliance”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,287,031 (“Computersystem and method for increasing patients compliance to medical careinstructions”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,271,728 (“Method for assessingimprovement in hand hygiene practices”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,170,823(“Medical dispenser, a blister card for use in the dispenser and amethod of dispensing medical doses”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,371 (“Unitdose compliance monitoring and reporting device and system”); U.S. Pat.No. 6,882,278 (“Apparatus and methods for monitoring compliance withrecommended hand-washing practices”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,583 (“Medicalbilling method and system”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,038 (“Dispenser havingtiming means, multisensory output and means of tracking usage number”);U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,931 (“Reflex tester and method for measurement ofrange of motion and peripheral vision”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,695 (“Eventmonitoring device”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,383 (“Prescription compliancedevice and method of using device”).

Operation 2898 describes causing wireless signal transmission circuitryin situ to initiate a wireless transmission in response to an indicationof ingestion (e.g. acid-activated sensor 2164 responding to an ambientpH going below an a priori threshold 565 by triggering a transmission ofRF energy 2168 from an ingestible instance of event/detection unit2150). This can occur, for example, in a context in which the a priorithreshold 565 is between 2 and 6, in which the intended subject is aperson, and in which product 2410 includes the event/detection unit2150. Alternatively or additionally, one or more implants 1340 or othervessels 1010 (situated in or near the digestive tract of subject 382,e.g.) may be configured to perform operation 2898 by transmitting awireless signal 1034 in response to a detection of an ingestible capsule491, 910 in the digestive tract.

Operation 2899 describes obtaining an indication of whether anindividual remains enrolled in a program requiring a therapeutic regimen(e.g. one or more modules for verifying that a therapeutic regimenremains in effect for an individual 2189 determining whether a providerhas confirmed that a subject 382 remains enrolled in a program afterhaving sent a request for such confirmation to the provider). This canoccur, for example, in a context in which the provider has been givenample opportunity and incentive for replying (by following a “confirmenrollment” link in an electronic message identifying the program andthe individual, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally, in some variants,one or more incentives to the subject(s) may depend upon whether suchcontinued enrollment is confirmed.

In some variants, detection logic (units or modules, e.g.) describedherein may include one or more cameras 2232, microphones, or othersensors 179, 187 configured to capture or otherwise obtain a video clip642, an audio clip 643, one or more representative samplings 671, 672thereof, or other such components of records 488. Such records mayinclude an indication of ingestion 440 or other objective indication ofa bioactive or other therapeutic material 184 administered to a portionof a subject 382, such as a video clip of a care provider 383administering a topical treatment. This can occur, for example, in acontext in which the therapeutic material comprises a targeted drug orother topical bioactive material that is not well suited for theindividual to use as a systemic treatment, in which such data isconsistently available for review (stored in an archive, e.g.) as anobjective indication that the material has been administered to aspecific portion of the individual, in which such records are notgenerally reviewed, and in which an underwriter or other serviceprovider 310 can authorize a type of benefit, coverage, or other serviceto a class of individuals conditionally in response to such recordsbeing generally available. Such classes may be defined by one or morepreferences or demographic attributes 750, for example. Such records mayalso include an indication of a health status apparently resulting froma bioactive material administered to the individual, such as a biometricmeasurement (indicating an increase in temperature, e.g.) or an imagecomparison (indicating a skin color change or other expected improvementafter a regimen over a course of days or months that includes topical orsystemic steroid treatments, e.g.).

With reference now to flow 2900 of FIG. 29 and to other flows describedabove, one or more operations of 10-16 may each (optionally) include orrelate to one or more instances of operation 2911 or operation 2913 asdescribed below. Such a “preparatory” operation may be carried out, forexample, by one or more distillation units or other detection logic(implemented in one or more application modules 110 or components210-216 or interaction units 375, e.g.) configured to invoke, modulate,or otherwise influence one or more other components described herein.

Operation 2911 describes detecting whether data from one or more sensorsindicate an actuation of a portion of a dispensing device (e.g. one ormore modules for detecting an actuation in a vessel 2141 receiving, fromone or more processors 2272, an actuation signal 2241 that is also usedto control an actuation of one or more plungers 1182, rotary elements,or other actuators 1052, 1184 of a syringe 1155, vending machine,inhaler 1158, implant, or other medication dispenser). This can occur,for example, in a context in which processor 2272 triggers suchactuation as a response to data 2161 from one or more sensors 2169indicating that subject 382 needs such a dispensation (from a sample2165 of blood from subject 382 indicating a deficiency of a therapeuticcomponent 181, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally, one or moreactuation sensors 2242 can be configured to generate such data 2161 as adirect indication 2295 of such actuation. This can occur, for example,in a context in which image recognition module 2258 recognizes imagedata 424 depicting an actuator 1184 in different positions (relative toa remainder of vessel 1190, e.g.) or in which vessel 1190 includes anactuation sensor 2242 mechanically coupled with actuator 1052, and inwhich primary unit 1110 or vessel 1190 contains administration detectionlogic 2140 that performs one or more operation(s) of 10-16.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for detecting actuation of a portion of a vessel as describedherein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,543(“Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,442,180 (“Apparatus and methods for administering bioactivecompositions”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,396,511 (“Dispensing device, dispensingmethod and method of detecting defective discharge of solutioncontaining biological sample”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,200 (“Medicamentdispenser”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,944 (“Fluid dispenser calibrationsystem and method”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,476 (“Smart medicinecontainer”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,233,015 (“System and method for detectingliquid flow from a nozzle in a semiconductor processing device”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,170,823 (“Medical dispenser, a blister card for use in thedispenser and a method of dispensing medical doses”); U.S. Pat. No.7,117,653 (“Flavoring system and method”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,269(“Apparatus and method for testing seed singulation of a seed meter”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,027,935 (“Sample dispensing apparatus and automaticanalyzer using the same”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,998,230 (“Array fabricationwith drop detection”).

Operation 2913 describes receiving a wireless signal via a device inexternal contact with a portion of an individual from within the portionof the individual (e.g. wireless receiver 2176 receiving one or morewireless signals as described herein via a handheld instrument 1350,belt, watch, headset, skin-adhesive patch 163, or other body contactdevice 2175 from within a digestive tract or other portion 1115 of asubject 382, 912, 1112, 1282 as described herein). This can occur, forexample, in a context in which a detection module 162, sensor 1229, orother logic in the device performs one or more operation(s) of 10-16; inwhich the device is held in the subject's hand or affixed to the subject382 (on the subject's skin 1326, e.g.); and in which an implanted oringested item transmitted a wireless signal 1034, 1230 (a digitalmessage, e.g.).

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring structures effective for positioning a device inexternal contact with a subject as described herein without undueexperimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,080 (“On-body medicaldevice securement”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,976,480 (“Wearable auscultationsystem and method”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,827 (“Minimally invasiveallergy testing system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,640 (“Thermal treatmentgarment and method of thermally treating body portions”); U.S. Pat. No.7,697,966 (“Noninvasive targeting system method and apparatus”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,625,117 (“Bandage with sensors”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,207(“Portable biological information monitor apparatus and informationmanagement apparatus”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,975 (“Method and apparatusfor mitigating the risk of pressure sores”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,319,639(“Acoustic concealed item detector”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,674,231 (“Wearablepulse wave velocity blood pressure sensor and methods of calibrationthereof”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,869,853 (“Analyte monitoring device andmethods of use”).

With reference again to flow 2900 of FIG. 29 and to other flowsdescribed above, one or more operations of 21-26 may each (optionally)include or relate to one or more instances of operation 2992, operation2995, operation 2997, or operation 2998 as described below. Such a“utility” operation may be carried out, for example, by application ordecision logic (implemented in one or more primary components 221-226 ordistillation units 460 or other data handling units responsive to one ormore preparatory operations, e.g.) configured to implement orcommunicate one or more outputs of 251-256 or other useful resultsdescribed herein.

Operation 2992 describes signaling a regimen compliance datadistillation by identifying a data distillation protocol (e.g. one ormore processors 470 executing or otherwise invoking a special-purposefilter 471 such as a module for determining whether one or morecomponents of raw data 410 are too large by applying one or more sizethresholds 564). This can occur, for example, in a context in which asender or recipient of record 488 recognizes that one or more componentsof raw data 410 may be unsuitably large for archiving or transmission;in which one or more instances of distillation modules 430 perform oneor more operation(s) of 21-26; in which technician 361 has configuredfilter 471 to recognize at least some data 425 as being compatible withsignificant digital compression (lossy image compression or non-uniformsampling and interpolation, e.g.); and in which technician 361recognizes a need to implement a data distillation protocol 658combining a maximum size threshold 562 (imposed upon one or moreinstances of record 488 containing too-voluminous raw data 410, e.g.)even while usually leaving a remainder of the components of raw data 410intact. Alternatively or additionally, such data distillation protocolsmay be used (by one or more processors 470, e.g.) to generate datadistillations 450 indicative of regimen compliance or noncompliance asdescribed herein.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for implementing and delegating data distillation tasks asdescribed herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.7,991,628 (“Generating output data based on patient monitoring”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,987,720 (“Ultrasonic sensing array system and method”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,967,759 (“Endoscopic system with integrated patientrespiratory status indicator”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,957,781 (“Method andcircuit for storing and providing historical physiological data”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,539,101 (“Method for identity verification”); U.S. Pat. No.7,983,817 (“Method and arrangement for obtaining information aboutvehicle occupants”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,920,907 (“Analyte monitoring systemand method”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,494,470 (“Analysis of metabolic gases byan implantable cardiac device for the assessment of cardiac output”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,240 (“System and method for adaptive drugdelivery”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,471 (“Portable remote patienttelemonitoring system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,564,990 (“Imaging system andmethod for physical feature analysis”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,840,269(“Analysis of eating habits”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,747,454 (“System andmethod for real time management of a drug regimen”); U.S. Pat. No.7,970,470 (“Diagnosis and/or therapy using blood chemistry/expired gasparameter analysis”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,783,442 (“System and methods forcalibrating physiological characteristic sensors”); U.S. Pat. No.7,890,295 (“Real time self-adjusting calibration algorithm”).

In some variants, for example, one or more distillation modules 430 mayperform operation 2992 in performing a triage operation. In a context inwhich distillation module 434 is unable to determine automaticallywhether sequential image data 424 contains an indication of ingestion445, for example, or in which distillation module 435 is unable toresolve a presence/absence of some event indication 440 in sensor outputor other raw data 426, such distillation modules may (optionally) beconfigured to respond to such indeterminacy by implementing a contingentevaluation request protocol 482 such as by transmitting a message 483 toa technician 361 (via response unit 355, e.g.) tasked with resolvingsuch indeterminacy. Such an invocation may likewise include transmittingthe relevant image data 424 or other raw data 410 (with pointer data 444signaling the time or location of anomalous data with human-executableinstructions 478, e.g.) and a time after which a description of theanomalous data will be finalized (as “unresolved,” e.g.). In somecontexts, for example, such instructions may identify a type of review(a category designation or detailed analysis, e.g.) for a human analystto apply. This can occur, for example, in a context in which atechnician 361 who receives the message 483 has proprietary or othernoteworthy skills or tools (one or more specialized distillation modules436 in a remote instance of response unit 355, for example, suitable forcost-effective implementation as an emergency call center or otherspecialty service). In some contexts, for example, a government or otherservice provider 310 who suspects that widespread noncompliance with alegally imposed regimen (forbidding a use of a controlled substance,e.g.) is occurring in a population of subjects who share one or morecommon demographic attributes 750 (having an area code 753 of “303” or avehicle registration address in Denver County, e.g.) may providespecific human-readable instructions 478 selectively (in an automaticconditional alert message 483 to an investigator or consultant, e.g.)and optionally articulating qualitative or novel criteria 624 (forinvestigating some class of program participants' compliance-indicativedata for suspicious circumstances, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally,such instructions 478 may be useful in a context in which no availabledevice can readily apply one or more criteria as described herein toimages 632 or other raw data 410 and in which a remote application ofcompliance-related criteria would be more effective for programmatichuman review (by a marketing specialist or other technician 361, e.g.)than for a fully automated implementation.

Operation 2995 describes signaling a regimen compliance datadistillation by transmitting the regimen compliance data distillation(e.g. processor 470 executing a systematic archiving protocol 485implemented as a sequence of instructions for transmitting a compliancedetermination 447, an at-least-generally negative indication 689 ofcompliance, a link or other pointer 679 to one or more components of rawdata 410 of potential relevance to a future determination of regimencompliance or noncompliance, or some other data distillation acrossnetwork 340 to a remote delivery unit 325 suitable for archiving). Thiscan occur, for example, in a context in which such raw data componentsinclude one or more measurements 665 or auditory data 653 indicatingthat a capsule was apparently not ingested (and was instead flushed orleft in a bottle, e.g.); in which such systematic archiving protocol 485includes one or more instructions 478 executable by processor 470; inwhich a portion of raw data 410 is included as a part of the datadistillation 450; and in which a control module 115, 880, 1220implements a distillation or other data handling unit 610 as describedbelow.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for transmitting therapeutic compliance information remotelyacross a communication medium as described herein without undueexperimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,504,954 (“Radio frequencyidentification pharmaceutical tracking system and method”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,395,214 (“Apparatus, device and method for prescribing,administering and monitoring a treatment regimen for a patient”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,375,640 (“System, method and implementation for increasing alikelihood of improved hand hygiene in a desirably sanitaryenvironment”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,919 (“Medication adherence system”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,295,890 (“Prescription drug compliance monitoringsystem”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,399 (“Apparatus for delivery of humidifiedgases therapy, associated methods and analysis tools”); U.S. Pat. No.6,980,958 (“Apparatus and methods for monitoring and modifyinganticoagulation therapy of remotely located patients”); U.S. Pat. No.6,973,371 (“Unit dose compliance monitoring and reporting device andsystem”).

Operation 2997 describes obtaining a regimen compliance datadistillation by causing an application of one or more auditory datadistillation criteria (e.g. auditory data distillation module 431 andsystematic archiving protocol 485 jointly cropping a silent interval orother conspicuously irrelevant portion from auditory data 421 in record488). This can occur, for example, in a context in which one or moresensors in, on, or near a regimen subscriber or other subject 382, 912,1282, 1112 detect raw auditory data 421; in which auditory datadistillation module 431 preferentially retains a frequency-domainportion of the data near a human vocal range (between 30 and 300 Hertz,e.g.) or a portion in temporal proximity to a recognizable swallowingsound 441 in the auditory data 421; in which a plurality of distillationmodules 430 jointly perform one or more operation(s) of 21-26; and inwhich some of the output from auditory data distillation module 431 isrouted through circuitry implementing systematic archiving protocol 485.Alternatively or additionally, auditory data distillation module 431 maybe configured as a software program for speech recognition thatselectively removes time intervals of recognizable speech as auditorydata 421 passes to become a part of record 488.

Operation 2998 describes obtaining a regimen compliance datadistillation by causing an application of one or more sensor measurementthresholds (e.g. measurement data distillation module 432 generating aregimen compliance determination 686 or other generally positiveindication 687 if temperature sensor data 422, for several sequentialthermal transitions 442 sampled each several seconds, indicates atemperature monotonically approaching 37° C. so as to indicate close andconstant proximity with a human body). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which one or more reliable indications of an ingestion orapplication of a sensor-bearing device (in the form of a capsule, patch,or other material administration product 150 as described herein, e.g.)signifies regimen compliance; and in which processor 655 executes orotherwise invokes one or more distillation modules 430 to perform one ormore operation(s) of 21-26. Alternatively or additionally, an invocationmodule 780 may (optionally) perform operation 2996 by triggering ameasurement data distillation module 432 (remotely across network 340,e.g.) configured to apply one or more other thresholds 562 (by passingone or more prolixity determinants 760, protocol identifiers 774, orother such parameters 777, e.g.). This can occur, for example, in acontext (1) in which a distillation unit 460 or interaction unit 375includes or otherwise couples with linking module 790 that includes acontrol module 880, 1220 or other module configured to perform one ormore operation(s) of 21-26, (2) in which service provider 310 has deemedone or more such comparative evaluation criteria 613 sufficient toestablish a positive indication 687 relating to regimen compliance; and(3) in which a distillation module 432 responds to such invocation byperforming another instance of operation 2996. In some variants,moreover, data handling unit 610 may be configured to provide a helpfunction or other supplemental guidance 2297 associating a qualifiedlypositive indication 687 of regimen compliance or a qualifiedly negativeindication 682 (signifying a trend toward or other foreseeability ofregimen noncompliance, e.g.).

With reference now to flow 3000 of FIG. 30 and to other flows describedabove, one or more operations of 10-16 may each (optionally) include orrelate to one or more instances of operation 3012, operation 3014, oroperation 3018 as described below. Such a “preparatory” operation may becarried out, for example, by one or more distillation units or otherdetection logic (implemented in one or more application modules 110 orcomponents 210-216 or interaction units 375, e.g.) configured to invoke,modulate, or otherwise influence one or more other components describedherein.

Operation 3012 describes retrieving event data relating to an individual(e.g. one or more inquiry modules 2223 requesting a direct eventindication 440, timing data 537 or other event-indicative data 2162 thata database 2181 associates with a subscriber number, patient name andbirthdate, or other one or more parameters 777 effective for identifyinga subject 382, 912, 1082, 1112). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which one or more detection devices, processors 115, 470, orother components 210-216 are configured to perform one or moreoperations 10-16 as described above, and in which in which responsemodule 2250 includes such inquiry module(s) and invokes it/them with oneor more such parameters 777. In some variants, for example, one or moreimplementation outputs 251-256 may include a response to such retrieval(or lack thereof) from a remote source (server 294, e.g.). Alternativelyor additionally, operations (21-26) as described herein may responddirectly to indications of ingestion 445, 2445 or inhalation or othersuch regimen-specific event indications 571-573 that may be associatedwith an individual.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for requesting or otherwise receiving demographic attributes,event data, or other data via an interface about patients or othersubjects as described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g.,U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,666 (“System and methods for monitoring a patient'sheart condition”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,375 (“Networked system forinteractive communication and remote monitoring of individuals”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,926,668 (“System and method for analyzing normalized patientvoice feedback in an automated collection and analysis patient caresystem”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,396 (“Wireless internet bio-telemetrymonitoring system and interface”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,783 (“Apparatusand method for two-way communication in a device for monitoring andcommunicating wellness parameters of ambulatory patients”); U.S. Pat.No. 6,478,737 (“System and method for analyzing normalized patient voicefeedback an automated collection and analysis patient care system”);U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,563 (“Remote health monitoring and maintenancesystem”).

Operation 3014 describes indicating a data distillation protocol atleast partly based on a demographic attribute of a subpopulation (e.g.one or more inquiry modules 2224 nominating one or more distillationmodules 430 via response unit 355 for a technician 361 or agent 362 toconfirm or select among, the nomination depending upon an age 751,ethnicity 752, or area code 753 effectively identifying a group ofpeople that includes a particular subject 382 of interest). This canoccur, for example, in a context in which server 294 has a medicalhistory or service directory associating the individual with thedemographic attribute(s), in which service provider 310 has specified aprotocol 512 for monitoring or data distillation (for heightenedscrutiny, e.g.) that depends upon such demographic attributes 750, andin which response module 2250 has authorized access to a private dataresource (a medical history of subject 382, e.g.) or other access to apublic data resource (a service directory listing subject 382, e.g.).Alternatively or additionally, inquiry module 2224 may perform operation3014 by transmitting an audible, text, or other message 483 to amaterial provider 381 or subject 382, for example, configuringinteraction unit 375 for use by subject 382 to include one or moreimplementations 201-206 as described herein. In some contexts, inquirymodule 2224 may be configured to request other human input (byconferencing in or texting a translator or other agent 362, e.g.) as aconditional response to indeterminate input (speech or text notunderstood by the device, e.g.) for gathering data about subject 382(via a bot, e.g.) upon which a configuration of interaction unit 375depends. Alternatively or additionally, a regimen compliance status orother data distillation 450 may be obtained by applying one or moredefault criteria or default distillation modules 430 (invoked as apreliminary result or in the event of a lack of response to suchinquiry, e.g.) as described herein.

Operation 3018 describes transmitting an inquiry to an individual (e.g.one or more inquiry modules 2225 transmitting audible or text data 231,233, 235, 237, 239, 241 via an output device 276 to a service provider310, care provider 382, or other recipient 322). This can occur, forexample, in a context in which the inquiry concerns a subject'spreferences 2221 or other attributes 2222 that are not readilyavailable; in which service provider 310 has specified a regimen thatincludes an expressed dependence upon such attribute(s); in whichresponse module 2250 is implemented in one or more control units 305;delivery units 325, or interaction units 375; and in which serviceprovider 310 would not otherwise be able to equip a regimen with suchcontingent features via control unit 305. In some variants it may beconvenient for an executive with a large client list to provide eachclient with an interaction unit 375 or other interface 270 eachconfigured to ask the client (subject 382, e.g.) whether a regimen 781,782 should be adjusted, for example, in response to one or more negativeindications 689 (indicative of noncompliance, e.g.). In some variantsinquiry module 2225 may provide a default response if no data 425 from acorresponding input device 178, 278 or otherwise from the individual isrecognized within a prescribed interval (a few seconds, minutes, orhours, e.g.). Moreover inquiry module 2225 may be configured to performoperation 3018 again in response to some clients' responsive inputs(expressing a quizzical tone of voice or other device-detectablemanifestation of a client inquiry, e.g.), such as by transmitting aquery or problem report (audio clip 641 of the client, e.g.) to a callcenter or other agent 362.

Operation 3091 describes determining whether an individual is apparentlycompliant with a regimen targeting a portion of the individual (e.g. oneor more logic modules 510 implementing an evaluation protocol 511pursuant to a regimen 782 targeting a disorder of a digestive tract of agiven subject 382). This can occur, for example, in a context in which adoctor or other service provider 310 has initially defined the regimen782 (by recommending a nutraceutical or pharmaceutical effective fortreating acid reflux with a dosage and frequency, e.g.) that is laterenhanced (by technician 361 or configuration module 795, e.g.) by theinclusion of a monitoring or evaluation protocol 511. Alternatively oradditionally, such a regimen may include one or more of an antiviralmaterial component 522 or other antibiotic material component, anitric-oxide-donor material component 525, an antihypertensive materialcomponent 531, a statin-containing material component 532, or othermaterial components 534. In some variants, moreover, regimen 782 may beconfigured to include a daily monitoring component 796 that trackswhether one or more prescribed dosages were apparently (ingested orotherwise) administered daily. In some contexts, such timing data 537,538 (even alone) can be useful (to a doctor or other care provider 383,e.g.) to inform further diagnoses or recommendations.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for using measurement data to determine compliance withmedicinal or other programs targeting “a portion of” an individual asdescribed herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.7,504,954 (“Radio frequency identification pharmaceutical trackingsystem and method”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,395,214 (“Apparatus, device andmethod for prescribing, administering and monitoring a treatment regimenfor a patient”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,375,640 (“System, method andimplementation for increasing a likelihood of improved hand hygiene in adesirably sanitary environment”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,919 (“Medicationadherence system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,295,890 (“Prescription drugcompliance monitoring system”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,063 (“Bracecompliance monitor”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,399 (“Apparatus for deliveryof humidified gases therapy, associated methods and analysis tools”);U.S. Pat. No. 6,980,958 (“Apparatus and methods for monitoring andmodifying anticoagulation therapy of remotely located patients”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,973,371 (“Unit dose compliance monitoring and reportingdevice and system”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,667 (“Patient compliancemonitor”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,142 (“Glucose monitoring instrumenthaving network connectivity”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,579 (“Eye self-testdevice”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,586 (“Computerized reward system forencouraging participation in a health management program”).

Operation 3095 describes determining whether a therapy is apparentlyhaving a specific effect (e.g. one or more image recognition modules2258 comparing successive images 143, 144 of a body part of subject 382to determine whether the later image 144 indicates an improvement(reduced inflammation or rash, e.g.). This can occur, for example, in acontext in which a specialist or other service provider 310 configuresan interface 189 to define a threshold 771 or other filter 472 todesignate the specific effect (improvement, e.g.) toward which atherapeutic or observation regimen is targeted. Alternatively oradditionally, the service provider 310 may include human-executableinstructions 478 in the regimen, by which a technician 361 will generatepointer data 444 or other summary data 446 that a specialist can latervalidate. This can occur, for example, in a context in which a parent orother care provider 383 near subject 382 is not trained to understandsuch specific instructive content 475 and in which such specializedmonitoring would therefore be impractical.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for implementing a measurement criterion or otherdetermination indicative of whether a bioactive material or othertherapy is apparently having any effect. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.7,185,650 (“Systems and methods for determining a minimum effective doseof an inhaled drug for an individual patient at a given time”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,138,240 (“Methods of assaying receptor activity”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,003,346 (“Method for illness and disease determination andmanagement”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,619 (“Ultrasound radiation device”);U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,192 (“Measurement of sleep apnea duration andevaluation of response therapies using duration metrics”); U.S. Pat. No.6,659,959 (“Catheter with physiological sensor”); U.S. Pat. No.6,613,573 (“Method and apparatus for monitoring anti-platelet agents”);U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,607 (“Method and system for use in treating apatient with a biological substance to optimize therapy and prevent anadverse response”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,606 (“Method, apparatus andsystem for use in treating patient with a drug having an antineoplasticeffect to optimize therapy and prevent an adverse drug response”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,575,169 (“Method and apparatus for use in treating a patientwith any drug to optimize therapy and prevent an adverse drug”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,347,239 (“Method of evaluating the efficacy of drug on brainnerve cells”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,153 (“Method for evaluatingimmunosuppressive regimens”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,986 (“Methods foranti-addictive narcotic analgesic activity screening”).

Operation 3096 describes applying a provider-specified criterion todevice-detectable health-indicative data (e.g. a processor 655 orhardware-implemented distillation protocol 657 applying one or moreevaluation criteria 614 or other distillation criteria 621 defined by aservice provider 310 or material provider 381 to chemical sensor data423 or other raw data 410). This can occur, for example, in a context inwhich such sensor data includes a pH or concentration measurement deemedacceptable (by chemical data distillation module 433, e.g.) if it fallsinside of a threshold 771 minimum or maximum specified by the provider.Alternatively or additionally, periodic samplings 674 or therapeuticevent pointers 678 may be compliant if they are sufficiently frequent(having a frequency higher than a threshold 771 of a provider-specifiedmonitoring regimen, e.g.).

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for applying various provider-specified criteria (relating tocounts or dosages provided by a physician or other service provider 310,e.g.) to device-detectable health-indicative data (for determiningsuccess, eligibility, or some other threshold event, e.g.) as describedherein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,488,291(“Methods for detecting and monitoring sleep disordered breathing usingan implantable medical device”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,487,774 (“Adaptivepatient trigger threshold detection”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,465,551 (“Methodof determining cytokine dosage for improving myelosuppressive state”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,366,571 (“Neurostimulator with activation based onchanges in body temperature”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,619 (“Snore detectingmethod and apparatus”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,246 (“Diagnosis of thepresence of cochlear hydrops using observed auditory brainstemresponses”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,177,684 (“Activity monitor and six-minutewalk test for depression and CHF patients”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,132,238(“Method of determining a chemotherapeutic regimen based on ERCC1expression”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,107,095 (“Device for and method of rapidnoninvasive measurement of parameters of diastolic function of leftventricle and automated evaluation of the measured profile of leftventricular function at rest and with exercise”); U.S. Pat. No.7,054,688 (“Heart stimulator with evoked response detector and anarrangement for determining the stimulation threshold”); U.S. Pat. No.7,047,083 (“Method and apparatus for identifying lead-related conditionsusing lead impedance measurements”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,498(“Administration of CPAP treatment pressure in presence of apnea”); U.S.Pat. No. 6,978,177 (“Method and apparatus for using atrialdiscrimination algorithms to determine optimal pacing therapy andtherapy timing”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,548 (“Implantable stimulationdevice and method for discrimination atrial and ventriculararrhythmias”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,048 (“Implantable active medicaldevice enslaved to at least one physiological parameter”).

Operation 3097 describes signaling an identifier of a capsule (e.g.recording system 2230 generating one or more data records 2235 eachassociating a serial number or other capsule identifier 2236 with amanufacturing lot number, ingestion or other event data, medicationcontent, dosage, or other related data 2237 from or about a specificcapsule 491). This can occur, for example, in a context in whichdistillation unit 460 includes or otherwise interacts with a responsemodule 2250, in which several self-identifying pills are provided tosubject 382, and in which subject 382 is directly or indirectlyavailable frequently enough to permit monitoring as described herein.

With reference again to flow 3000 of FIG. 30 and to other flowsdescribed above, one or more operations of 21-26 may each (optionally)include or relate to one or more instances of operation 3091, operation3095, operation 3096, or operation 3097 as described below. Such a“utility” operation may be carried out, for example, by application ordecision logic (implemented in one or more primary components 221-226 ordistillation units 460 or other data handling units responsive to one ormore preparatory operations, e.g.) configured to implement orcommunicate one or more outputs of 251-256 or other useful resultsdescribed herein.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for recognizing trends and other quantitative measurementcomparisons as described herein without undue experimentation. See,e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,485,095 (“Measurement and analysis of trends inphysiological and/or health data”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,119 (“Sleepapnea risk evaluation”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,187,960 (“Apparatus and methodfor measuring biologic parameters”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,460,899 (“Apparatusand method for monitoring heart rate variability”); U.S. Pat. No.7,914,468 (“Systems and methods for monitoring and modifying behavior”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,311 (“Multispectral biometric sensor”); U.S. Pat.No. 7,674,231 (“Wearable pulse wave velocity blood pressure sensor andmethods of calibration thereof”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,983,759 (“Advancedpatient management for reporting multiple health-related parameters”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,959,568 (“Advanced patient management for identifying,displaying and assisting with correlating health-related data”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,911,348 (“Methods for refining patient, staff and visitorprofiles used in monitoring quality and performance at a healthcarefacility”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,894,849 (“Mobile personal services platformfor providing feedback”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,825,815 (“Apparatus, systems,and methods for gathering and processing biometric and biomechanicaldata”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,852 (“Method and apparatus forpatient-controlled medical therapeutics”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,870,249(“Networked system for interactive communication and remote monitoringof individuals”).

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may beapplied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structureseffective for recognizing and manipulating portions of audio signals andaudible events as described herein without undue experimentation. See,e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,940,914 (“Detecting emotion in voice signals in acall center”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,881,934 (“Method and system for adjustingthe voice prompt of an interactive system based upon the user's state”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,822,192 (“Sound event processing with echo analysis”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,809,574 (“Word recognition using choice lists”); U.S.Pat. No. 7,707,037 (“Archiving of surveillance data”); U.S. Pat. No.6,731,307 (“User interface/entertainment device that simulates personalinteraction and responds to user's mental state and/or personality”);U.S. Pat. No. 6,728,679 (“Self-updating user interface/entertainmentdevice that simulates personal interaction”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,668,710(“Determining voice recognition accuracy in a voice recognitionsystem”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,577,569 (“Combined speech recognition andtext-to-speech generation”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,089 (“Combined speechand handwriting recognition”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,103,542 (“Automaticallyimproving a voice recognition system”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,549(“Indexing of media content on a network”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,987,280(“System and method for locating and capturing desired media contentfrom media broadcasts”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,914,442 (“Endoscopic smartprobe and method”); U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,767 (“Physical condition orenvironmental threat detection appliance system”); U.S. Pat. No.6,971,993 (“Method for utilizing oral movement and related events”);U.S. Pat. No. 7,983,933 (“Patient monitoring via image capture”).

Some or all of the embodiments described herein may generally comprisetechnologies for handling one or more bioactive agents and/or carriersin releasable module form, via a liquid-bearing conduit, in a mist orother spray form, in a pumped or other pressurized form, or otherwiseaccording to technologies described herein. In a general sense, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects describedherein which can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by awide range of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereofcan be viewed as being composed of various types of “electricalcircuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electrical circuitry”includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at leastone discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at leastone integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of randomaccess memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communicationsdevice (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electricalequipment). Those having skill in the art will recognize that thesubject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog ordigital fashion or some combination thereof.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter,receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein describedcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussionaccompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptualclarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated.Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and theaccompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their moregeneral classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended tobe representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specificcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be takenlimiting.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelesslyinteracting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logicallyinteractable components.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,”“adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that “configured to” can generallyencompass active-state components and/or inactive-state componentsand/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to claims containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “Aor B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto implement devices and/or processes and/or systems, and thereafter useengineering and/or other practices to integrate such implemented devicesand/or processes and/or systems into more comprehensive devices and/orprocesses and/or systems. That is, at least a portion of the devicesand/or processes and/or systems described herein can be integrated intoother devices and/or processes and/or systems via a reasonable amount ofexperimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize thatexamples of such other devices and/or processes and/or systems mightinclude—as appropriate to context and application—all or part of devicesand/or processes and/or systems of (a) an air conveyance (e.g., anairplane, rocket, helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground conveyance (e.g., acar, truck, locomotive, tank, armored personnel carrier, etc.), (c) abuilding (e.g., a home, warehouse, office, etc.), (d) an appliance(e.g., a refrigerator, a washing machine, a dryer, etc.), (e) acommunications system (e.g., a networked system, a telephone system, aVoice over IP system, etc.), (f) a business entity (e.g., an InternetService Provider (ISP) entity such as Comcast Cable, Qwest, SouthwesternBell, etc.), or (g) a wired/wireless services entity (e.g., Sprint,Cingular, Nextel, etc.), etc.

In certain cases, use of a system or method may occur in a territoryeven if components are located outside the territory. For example, in adistributed computing context, use of a distributed computing system mayoccur in a territory even though parts of the system may be locatedoutside of the territory (e.g., relay, server, processor, signal-bearingmedium, transmitting computer, receiving computer, etc. located outsidethe territory).

A sale of a system or method may likewise occur in a territory even ifcomponents of the system or method are located and/or used outside theterritory. Further, implementation of at least part of a system forperforming a method in one territory does not preclude use of the systemin another territory.

With respect to the numbered clauses and claims expressed below, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein maygenerally be performed in any order. Also, although various operationalflows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that thevarious operations may be performed in other orders than those which areillustrated, or may be performed concurrently. Examples of suchalternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted,reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous,reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise.Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or otherpast-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude suchvariants, unless context dictates otherwise. Also in the numberedclauses below, specific combinations of aspects and embodiments arearticulated in a shorthand form such that (1) according to respectiveembodiments, for each instance in which a “component” or other suchidentifiers appear to be introduced (with “a” or “an,” e.g.) more thanonce in a given chain of clauses, such designations may either identifythe same entity or distinct entities; and (2) what might be called“dependent” clauses below may or may not incorporate, in respectiveembodiments, the features of “independent” clauses to which they referor other features described above.

Clauses

1. (Independent) A system comprising:

wireless signal transmission circuitry for generating adevice-detectable wireless transmission; and

circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situto initiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial.

2. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for conditioning a regimen noncompliance determination upon afirst compliance-negative indication and upon a secondcompliance-negative indication, the first compliance-negative indicationbeing a passage of an interval of time without the ex situ devicedetecting the wireless transmission, the passage of the interval of timeindicating that biological material was not detected.

3. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for conditioning a regimen compliance determination upon afirst compliance-positive indication and upon a secondcompliance-positive indication, the first compliance-positive indicationbeing the ex situ device detecting the wireless transmission, indicatingthe material-selective in situ detection of the biological material.

4. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for conditioning whether a message is sent upon whether atemperature exceeds a threshold, the temperature being at a capsule thatincludes a temperature sensor and the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry, the capsule being ingestible by a human being, the thresholdbeing above 37° C. by at most a few degrees, the message being sentconditionally in response to the wireless transmission detectable by theex situ device indicating that the temperature exceeds the threshold.

5. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for conditioning whether a message is sent upon whether atemperature exceeds a threshold, the temperature being at a capsule thatincludes a temperature sensor and the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry, whether the message is sent being a result of the wirelesstransmission being detected by the ex situ device.

6. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for causing a door to become locked or unlocked selectively inresponse to the wireless transmission being detected by the ex situdevice.

7. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for deciding whether a status of an individual has apparentlychanged, the ex situ device configured to be supported by theindividual, the status of the individual including a regimen compliancestatus signaled responsively to the material-selective in situ detectionof the biological material.

8. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

the circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situdevice in response to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material, the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material selectively indicating a component of blood as thebiological material.

9. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

the circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situdevice in response to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material, the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material selectively indicating an enzyme as the biologicalmaterial.

10. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

the circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situdevice in response to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material, the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material selectively indicating stomach acid as thebiological material.

11. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

the circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situdevice in response to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material, the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material selectively indicating mucous of a small intestineof a human being as the biological material.

12. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for distilling historical data indicative of orcontraindicative of a health status transition apparently relating to aninfection in an individual, the health status transition apparentlyrelating to the infection in the individual being at least one of ahealth status improvement or a health status deterioration.

13. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for distilling historical data indicative of orcontraindicative of a health status transition apparently relating tocardiovascular disease in an individual, the health status transitionapparently relating to cardiovascular disease in the individual being atleast one of a health status improvement or a health statusdeterioration.

14. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for transmitting a regimen compliance determination as anactuation signal conditionally in response to the material-selective insitu detection of the biological material.

15. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation bycausing an application of one or more sensor measurement thresholds, atleast one of the one or more sensor measurement thresholds beingconfigured to determine whether any sensor data is apparently useless,the application of the one or more sensor measurement thresholds causingthe regimen compliance data distillation selectively to exclude aportion of the sensor data if the portion of the sensor data isapparently useless.

16. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation bycausing an application of one or more sensor measurement thresholds, atleast one of the one or more sensor measurement thresholds beingconfigured to determine whether any sensor data indicates a healthstatus change, the application of the one or more sensor measurementthresholds causing the regimen compliance data distillation selectivelyto include a portion of the sensor data if the portion of the sensordata indicates a health status change.

17. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation bycausing an application of one or more sensor measurement thresholds tosensor data.

18. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation bycausing an application of one or more auditory data distillationcriteria, at least one of the one or more auditory distillation criteriabeing configured to determine whether auditory data obtained via the exsitu device includes a compliance-positive indication, thecompliance-positive indication being at least one of a swallowing soundor a vocalized assertion.

19. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation bycausing an application of one or more auditory data distillationcriteria to auditory data obtained via the ex situ device.

20. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for determining whether an individual is apparently compliantwith a regimen targeting a portion of the individual, the individualbeing apparently compliant if the wireless transmission detectable bythe ex situ device does not include a compliance-negative indication.

21. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for determining whether an individual is apparently compliantwith a regimen targeting a portion of the individual, the individualbeing apparently compliant if the wireless transmission detectable bythe ex situ device indicates a health status improvement.

22. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for determining whether an individual is apparently compliantwith a regimen targeting a portion of the individual, the individualbeing apparently compliant if the wireless transmission detectable bythe ex situ device includes a normalcy indication.

23. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for determining whether an individual is apparently compliantwith a regimen targeting a portion of the individual, the wirelesssignal transmission circuitry in situ having been in or on theindividual, the biological material having been in or on the individual.

24. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for determining whether a therapy is apparently having aspecific effect, the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situdevice manifesting whether the therapy is apparently having the specificeffect, the specific effect being at least one of a health statusimprovement or a health status deterioration.

25. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for applying a provider-specified criterion todevice-detectable health-indicative data, the provider-specifiedcriterion signaling a data distillation protocol, the device-detectablehealth-indicative data including a component of the wirelesstransmission detectable by the ex situ device.

26. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises:

circuitry for signaling an identifier of a capsule, the wirelesstransmission detectable by the ex situ device including the identifierof the capsule.

27. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for conditioning an output upon receiving radio-frequencyenergy, the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ deviceincluding the radio-frequency energy, the output indicating thematerial-selective in situ detection of the biological material.

28. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for signaling a passive wireless transponder in a capsule, thepassive wireless transponder in the capsule being the wireless signaltransmission circuitry.

29. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for conditioning an output upon a presence of or an absence ofan indication of contraband, the contraband being the biologicalmaterial, the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device inresponse to the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial manifesting the presence of the indication of the contraband.

30. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for obtaining an indication of when at least a portion of avessel moved, the vessel including the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry.

31. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting whether data from one or more sensors indicatean actuation of a portion of a dispensing device, the dispensing devicebeing large enough to contain a plurality of capsules each containing atherapeutic material, a first one of the plurality of capsules includingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry, a second one of theplurality of capsules superficially resembling the first one of theplurality of capsules but not containing any wireless signaltransmission circuitry.

32. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for retrieving event data relating to an individual, thewireless signal transmission circuitry being associated with the eventdata relating to the individual.

33. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for indicating a data distillation protocol at least partlybased on a demographic attribute of a subpopulation, the specificindividual having ingested the device.

34. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting a device associated with an individual, theindividual having ingested the device, the device including the wirelesssignal transmission circuitry.

35. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for causing wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission in response to an indication ofingestion by transmitting an interrogation signal to the wireless signaltransmission circuitry after the indication of ingestion, the indicationof ingestion being the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material, the biological material being at least one of adigestive fluid or a portion of the digestive tract.

36. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for determining whether an event occurred within a normalinterval of time and for signaling a regimen compliance datadistillation selectively including a compliance-negative indication ifthe indication of the abnormally late order for the therapeuticcomponent is obtained.

37. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for signaling a regimen compliance data distillation byidentifying a data distillation protocol, the data distillation protocolbeing a component of a user-specified monitoring regimen.

38. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for signaling a regimen compliance data distillation byidentifying a data distillation protocol, the data distillation protocolbeing selected in response to the material-selective in situ detectionof the biological material.

39. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

circuitry for obtaining an indication of whether an individual remainsenrolled in a program requiring a therapeutic regimen, the circuitry forcausing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiatethe wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device being partlybased on the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial and partly based on the indication of whether the individualremains enrolled in the program requiring the therapeutic regimen.

40. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, further comprising:

the ex situ device, supporting the circuitry for causing the wirelesssignal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wirelesstransmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material.

a capsule in situ, supporting the circuitry for causing the wirelesssignal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wirelesstransmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material.

41. (Independent) A method comprising:

configuring wireless signal transmission circuitry for generating adevice-detectable wireless transmission; and

causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material.

42. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

conditioning a regimen noncompliance determination upon a firstcompliance-negative indication and upon a second compliance-negativeindication, the first compliance-negative indication being a passage ofan interval of time without the ex situ device detecting the wirelesstransmission, the passage of the interval of time indicating thatbiological material was not detected.

43. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

conditioning a regimen compliance determination upon a firstcompliance-positive indication and upon a second compliance-positiveindication, the first compliance-positive indication being the ex situdevice detecting the wireless transmission, indicating thematerial-selective in situ detection of the biological material.

44. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

conditioning whether a message is sent upon whether a temperatureexceeds a threshold, the temperature being at a capsule that includes atemperature sensor and the wireless signal transmission circuitry, thecapsule being ingestible by a human being, the threshold being above 37°C. by at most a few degrees, the message being sent conditionally inresponse to the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ deviceindicating that the temperature exceeds the threshold.

45. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

conditioning whether a message is sent upon whether a temperatureexceeds a threshold, the temperature being at a capsule that includes atemperature sensor and the wireless signal transmission circuitry,whether the message is sent being a result of the wireless transmissionbeing detected by the ex situ device.

46. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

causing a door to become locked or unlocked selectively in response tothe wireless transmission being detected by the ex situ device.

47. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the Causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

deciding whether a status of an individual has apparently changed, theex situ device configured to be supported by the individual, the statusof the individual including a regimen compliance status signaledresponsively to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material.

48. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

the causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device inresponse to the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial, the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial selectively indicating a component of blood as the biologicalmaterial.

49. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

the causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device inresponse to the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial, the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial selectively indicating an enzyme as the biological material.

50. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

the causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device inresponse to the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial, the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial selectively indicating stomach acid as the biological material.

51. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

the causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device inresponse to the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial, the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial selectively indicating mucous of a small intestine of a humanbeing as the biological material.

52. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

distilling historical data indicative of or contraindicative of a healthstatus transition apparently relating to an infection in an individual,the health status transition apparently relating to the infection in theindividual being at least one of a health status improvement or a healthstatus deterioration.

53. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

distilling historical data indicative of or contraindicative of a healthstatus transition apparently relating to cardiovascular disease in anindividual, the health status transition apparently relating tocardiovascular disease in the individual being at least one of a healthstatus improvement or a health status deterioration.

54. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

transmitting a regimen compliance determination as an actuation signalconditionally in response to the material-selective in situ detection ofthe biological material.

55. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation by causing anapplication of one or more sensor measurement thresholds, at least oneof the one or more sensor measurement thresholds being configured todetermine whether any sensor data is apparently useless, the applicationof the one or more sensor measurement thresholds causing the regimencompliance data distillation selectively to exclude a portion of thesensor data if the portion of the sensor data is apparently useless.

56. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation by causing anapplication of one or more sensor measurement thresholds, at least oneof the one or more sensor measurement thresholds being configured todetermine whether any sensor data indicates a health status change, theapplication of the one or more sensor measurement thresholds causing theregimen compliance data distillation selectively to include a portion ofthe sensor data if the portion of the sensor data indicates a healthstatus change.

57. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation by causing anapplication of one or more sensor measurement thresholds to sensor data.

58. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation by causing anapplication of one or more auditory data distillation criteria, at leastone of the one or more auditory distillation criteria being configuredto determine whether auditory data obtained via the ex situ deviceincludes a compliance-positive indication, the compliance-positiveindication being at least one of a swallowing sound or a vocalizedassertion.

59. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation by causing anapplication of one or more auditory data distillation criteria toauditory data obtained via the ex situ device.

60. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

determining whether an individual is apparently compliant with a regimentargeting a portion of the individual, the individual being apparentlycompliant if the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ devicedoes not include a compliance-negative indication.

61. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

determining whether an individual is apparently compliant with a regimentargeting a portion of the individual, the individual being apparentlycompliant if the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ deviceindicates a health status improvement.

62. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

determining whether an individual is apparently compliant with a regimentargeting a portion of the individual, the individual being apparentlycompliant if the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ deviceincludes a normalcy indication.

63. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

determining whether an individual is apparently compliant with a regimentargeting a portion of the individual, the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry in situ having been in or on the individual, the biologicalmaterial having been in or on the individual.

64. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

determining whether a therapy is apparently having a specific effect,the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device manifestingwhether the therapy is apparently having the specific effect, thespecific effect being at least one of a health status improvement or ahealth status deterioration.

65. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

applying a provider-specified criterion to device-detectablehealth-indicative data, the provider-specified criterion signaling adata distillation protocol, the device-detectable health-indicative dataincluding a component of the wireless transmission detectable by the exsitu device.

66. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES in which the causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:

signaling an identifier of a capsule, the wireless transmissiondetectable by the ex situ device including the identifier of thecapsule.

67. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

conditioning an output upon receiving radio-frequency energy, thewireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device including theradio-frequency energy, the output indicating the material-selective insitu detection of the biological material.

68. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

signaling a passive wireless transponder in a capsule, the passivewireless transponder in the capsule being the wireless signaltransmission circuitry.

69. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

conditioning an output upon a presence of or an absence of an indicationof contraband, the contraband being the biological material, thewireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device in response tothe material-selective in situ detection of the biological materialmanifesting the presence of the indication of the contraband.

70. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

obtaining an indication of when at least a portion of a vessel moved,the vessel including the wireless signal transmission circuitry.

71. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

detecting whether data from one or more sensors indicate an actuation ofa portion of a dispensing device, the dispensing device being largeenough to contain a plurality of capsules each containing a therapeuticmaterial, a first one of the plurality of capsules including thewireless signal transmission circuitry, a second one of the plurality ofcapsules superficially resembling the first one of the plurality ofcapsules but not containing any wireless signal transmission circuitry.

72. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

retrieving event data relating to an individual, the wireless signaltransmission circuitry being associated with the event data relating tothe individual.

73. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

indicating a data distillation protocol at least partly based on ademographic attribute of a subpopulation, the specific individual havingingested the device.

74. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

detecting a device associated with an individual, the individual havingingested the device, the device including the wireless signaltransmission circuitry.

75. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

causing wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission in response to an indication of ingestion bytransmitting an interrogation signal to the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry after the indication of ingestion, the indication of ingestionbeing the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial, the biological material being at least one of a digestivefluid or a portion of the digestive tract.

76. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

determining whether an event occurred within a normal interval of timeand for signaling a regimen compliance data distillation selectivelyincluding a compliance-negative indication if the indication of theabnormally late order for the therapeutic component is obtained.

77. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

signaling a regimen compliance data distillation by identifying a datadistillation protocol, the data distillation protocol being a componentof a user-specified monitoring regimen.

78. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

signaling a regimen compliance data distillation by identifying a datadistillation protocol, the data distillation protocol being selected inresponse to the material-selective in situ detection of the biologicalmaterial.

79. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

obtaining an indication of whether an individual remains enrolled in aprogram requiring a therapeutic regimen, the causing the wireless signaltransmission circuitry in situ to initiate the wireless transmissiondetectable by the ex situ device being partly based on thematerial-selective in situ detection of the biological material andpartly based on the indication of whether the individual remainsenrolled in the program requiring the therapeutic regimen.

80. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, further comprising:

the ex situ device, supporting the causing the wireless signaltransmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wireless transmissiondetectable by an ex situ device in response to a material-selective insitu detection of a biological material.

a capsule in situ, supporting the causing the wireless signaltransmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wireless transmissiondetectable by an ex situ device in response to a material-selective insitu detection of a biological material.

81. (Independent) A method comprising:

detecting a first indication whether a first device has been ingested incontent of a signal from the first device;

detecting an apparent presence of or absence of a first device at atoilet as a second indication whether the first device has beeningested; and

signaling a data distillation indicative of a regimen compliance statuspartly based on the first indication whether the first device has beeningested in the content of the signal from the first device and partlybased on the apparent presence of or absence of the first device at thetoilet as the second indication whether the first device has beeningested.

82. The method of CLAUSE 81, further comprising:

performing the operation(s) of any one or more of the above METHODCLAUSES that depend from METHOD CLAUSE 41.

83. (Independent) A method comprising:

determining whether a presence of a wireless signal in a first frequencyrange below a threshold frequency occurred contemporaneously with anabsence of a wireless signal in a second frequency range above thethreshold frequency; and

indicating a regimen compliance status of a subject in response to thecircuitry for determining whether a presence of a wireless signal in afirst frequency range below a threshold frequency occurredcontemporaneously with an absence of a wireless signal in a secondfrequency range above the threshold frequency.

84. The method of CLAUSE 83, further comprising:

performing the operation(s) of any one or more of the above METHODCLAUSES that depend from METHOD CLAUSE 41.

85. (Independent) A method comprising:

obtaining first data indicating that at least a portion of a containermoved, the first data signaling that a therapeutic material has beenadministered to a portion of a subject; and

signaling second data corroborating or contraindicating that thetherapeutic material has been administered to the portion of the subjectresponsive to the first data indicating that at least the portion of thecontainer moved.

86. The method of CLAUSE 85, further comprising:

performing the operation(s) of any one or more of the above METHODCLAUSES that depend from METHOD CLAUSE 41.

87. (Independent) A method comprising:

obtaining an indication whether a vessel has been ingested by a subject;and

signaling a decision whether to actuate a mechanical component outsidethe subject responsive to the indication whether the vessel has beeningested by the subject.

88. The method of CLAUSE 87, further comprising:

performing the operation(s) of any one or more of the above METHODCLAUSES that depend from METHOD CLAUSE 41.

89. (Independent) A method comprising:

deciding whether to obtain one or more images of a region responsivelyto whether a wireless signal has been received from a device in theregion; and

signaling a data distillation indicative of a regimen compliance statusresponsively to whether the wireless signal has been received from thedevice in the region.

90. The method of CLAUSE 89, further comprising:

performing the operation(s) of any one or more of the above METHODCLAUSES that depend from METHOD CLAUSE 41.

91. (Independent) A system comprising:

means for performing the operation(s) of any one or more of the aboveMETHOD CLAUSES.

92. (Independent) An article of manufacture comprising:

one or more physical media configured to bear a device-detectableimplementation of a method including at least

generating a device-detectable wireless transmission; and

causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material.

93. The article of manufacture of CLAUSE 92 in which a portion of theone or more physical media comprises:

one or more signal-bearing media configured to transmit one or moreinstructions for performing the operation(s) of any one or more of theabove METHOD CLAUSES.

94. (Independent) An article of manufacture comprising:

one or more physical media bearing a device-detectable output indicatingan occurrence of

generating a device-detectable wireless transmission; and

causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material.

95. The article of manufacture of CLAUSE 94 in which a portion of theone or more physical media comprises:

one or more physical media bearing a device-detectable output indicatingan occurrence of the operation(s) of any one or more of the above METHODCLAUSES.

96. The article of manufacture of CLAUSE 94 in which at least one of theone or more physical media comprises:

one or more signal-bearing media bearing at least one signal from animplementation having at least circuitry for causing the wireless signaltransmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wireless transmissiondetectable by an ex situ device in response to a material-selective insitu detection of a biological material.

All of the patents and other publications referred to above areincorporated herein by reference generally—including those identified inrelation to particular new applications of existing techniques—to theextent not inconsistent herewith. While various system, method, articleof manufacture, or other embodiments or aspects have been disclosedabove, also, other combinations of embodiments or aspects will beapparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above disclosure.The various embodiments and aspects disclosed above are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated in the final claim set that follows.

1. A system comprising: wireless signal transmission circuitry forgenerating a device-detectable wireless transmission; and circuitry forcausing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material. 2.(canceled)
 3. The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry for causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:circuitry for conditioning a regimen compliance determination upon afirst compliance-positive indication and upon a secondcompliance-positive indication, the first compliance-positive indicationbeing the ex situ device detecting the wireless transmission, indicatingthe material-selective in situ detection of the biological material. 4.The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry for causing the wirelesssignal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wirelesstransmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:circuitry for conditioning whether a message is sent upon whether atemperature exceeds a threshold, the temperature being at a capsule thatincludes a temperature sensor and the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry, the capsule being ingestible by a human being, the thresholdbeing above 37° C. by at most a few degrees, the message being sentconditionally in response to the wireless transmission detectable by theex situ device indicating that the temperature exceeds the threshold. 5.The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry for causing the wirelesssignal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wirelesstransmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:circuitry for conditioning whether a message is sent upon whether atemperature exceeds a threshold, the temperature being at a capsule thatincludes a temperature sensor and the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry, whether the message is sent being a result of the wirelesstransmission being detected by the ex situ device.
 6. The system ofclaim 1 in which the circuitry for causing the wireless signaltransmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wireless transmissiondetectable by an ex situ device in response to a material-selective insitu detection of a biological material comprises: circuitry for causinga door to become locked or unlocked selectively in response to thewireless transmission being detected by the ex situ device. 7.(canceled)
 8. The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry for causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:the circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situdevice in response to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material, the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material selectively indicating a component of blood as thebiological material.
 9. The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry forcausing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:the circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situdevice in response to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material, the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material selectively indicating an enzyme as the biologicalmaterial.
 10. The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry for causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:the circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situdevice in response to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material, the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material selectively indicating stomach acid as thebiological material.
 11. The system of claim 1 in which the circuitryfor causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises: the circuitry for causing the wireless signaltransmission circuitry in situ to initiate the wireless transmissiondetectable by the ex situ device in response to the material-selectivein situ detection of the biological material, the material-selective insitu detection of the biological material selectively indicating mucousof a small intestine of a human being as the biological material. 12-16.(canceled)
 17. The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry for causingthe wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:circuitry for obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation bycausing an application of one or more sensor measurement thresholds tosensor data.
 18. The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry forcausing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:circuitry for obtaining a regimen compliance data distillation bycausing an application of one or more auditory data distillationcriteria, at least one of the one or more auditory distillation criteriabeing configured to determine whether auditory data obtained via the exsitu device includes a compliance-positive indication, thecompliance-positive indication being at least one of a swallowing soundor a vocalized assertion.
 19. The system of claim 1 in which thecircuitry for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situto initiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises: circuitry for obtaining a regimen compliance datadistillation by causing an application of one or more auditory datadistillation criteria to auditory data obtained via the ex situ device.20-24. (canceled)
 25. The system of claim 1 in which the circuitry forcausing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:circuitry for applying a provider-specified criterion todevice-detectable health-indicative data, the provider-specifiedcriterion signaling a data distillation protocol, the device-detectablehealth-indicative data including a component of the wirelesstransmission detectable by the ex situ device.
 26. The system of claim 1in which the circuitry for causing the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry in situ to initiate a wireless transmission detectable by anex situ device in response to a material-selective in situ detection ofa biological material comprises: circuitry for signaling an identifierof a capsule, the wireless transmission detectable by the ex situ deviceincluding the identifier of the capsule.
 27. The system of claim 1,further comprising: circuitry for conditioning an output upon receivingradio-frequency energy, the wireless transmission detectable by the exsitu device including the radio-frequency energy, the output indicatingthe material-selective in situ detection of the biological material. 28.The system of claim 1, further comprising: circuitry for signaling apassive wireless transponder in a capsule, the passive wirelesstransponder in the capsule being the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry.
 29. The system of claim 1, further comprising: circuitry forconditioning an output upon a presence of or an absence of an indicationof contraband, the contraband being the biological material, thewireless transmission detectable by the ex situ device in response tothe material-selective in situ detection of the biological materialmanifesting the presence of the indication of the contraband.
 30. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: circuitry for obtaining anindication of when at least a portion of a vessel moved, the vesselincluding the wireless signal transmission circuitry.
 31. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising: circuitry for detecting whether data fromone or more sensors indicate an actuation of a portion of a dispensingdevice, the dispensing device being large enough to contain a pluralityof capsules each containing a therapeutic material, a first one of theplurality of capsules including the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry, a second one of the plurality of capsules superficiallyresembling the first one of the plurality of capsules but not containingany wireless signal transmission circuitry.
 32. (canceled)
 33. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: circuitry for indicating a datadistillation protocol at least partly based on a demographic attributeof a subpopulation, the specific individual having ingested the device.34. The system of claim 1, further comprising: circuitry for detecting adevice associated with an individual, the individual having ingested thedevice, the device including the wireless signal transmission circuitry.35. (canceled)
 36. The system of claim 1, further comprising: circuitryfor determining whether an event occurred within a normal interval oftime and for signaling a regimen compliance data distillationselectively including a compliance-negative indication if the indicationof the abnormally late order for the therapeutic component is obtained.37. The system of claim 1, further comprising: circuitry for signaling aregimen compliance data distillation by identifying a data distillationprotocol, the data distillation protocol being a component of auser-specified monitoring regimen.
 38. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: circuitry for signaling a regimen compliance datadistillation by identifying a data distillation protocol, the datadistillation protocol being selected in response to thematerial-selective in situ detection of the biological material.
 39. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: circuitry for obtaining anindication of whether an individual remains enrolled in a programrequiring a therapeutic regimen, the circuitry for causing the wirelesssignal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate the wirelesstransmission detectable by the ex situ device being partly based on thematerial-selective in situ detection of the biological material andpartly based on the indication of whether the individual remainsenrolled in the program requiring the therapeutic regimen. 40.(canceled)
 41. A method comprising: configuring wireless signaltransmission circuitry for generating a device-detectable wirelesstransmission; and causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry insitu to initiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ devicein response to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial. 42-46. (canceled)
 47. The method of claim 41 in which thecausing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:deciding whether a status of an individual has apparently changed, theex situ device configured to be supported by the individual, the statusof the individual including a regimen compliance status signaledresponsively to the material-selective in situ detection of thebiological material. 48-50. (canceled)
 51. The method of claim 41 inwhich the causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial comprises: the causing the wireless signal transmissioncircuitry in situ to initiate the wireless transmission detectable bythe ex situ device in response to the material-selective in situdetection of the biological material, the material-selective in situdetection of the biological material selectively indicating mucous of asmall intestine of a human being as the biological material. 52-53.(canceled)
 54. The method of claim 41 in which the causing the wirelesssignal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wirelesstransmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material comprises:transmitting a regimen compliance determination as an actuation signalconditionally in response to the material-selective in situ detection ofthe biological material. 55-79. (canceled)
 80. A system comprising:means for generating a device-detectable wireless transmission; andmeans for causing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ toinitiate a wireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device inresponse to a material-selective in situ detection of a biologicalmaterial. 81-98. (canceled)
 99. An article of manufacture comprising:one or more physical media configured to bear a device-detectableimplementation of a method including at least obtaining circuitry forgenerating a device-detectable wireless transmission; and causing thewireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate a wirelesstransmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material. 100.(canceled)
 101. The article of manufacture of claim 99 in which aportion of the one or more physical media comprises: one or moresignal-bearing media configured to transmit one or more instructions forconditioning a regimen compliance determination upon a firstcompliance-positive indication and upon a second compliance-positiveindication, the first compliance-positive indication being the ex situdevice detecting the wireless transmission.
 102. The article ofmanufacture of claim 99 in which a portion of the one or more physicalmedia comprises: one or more signal-bearing media configured to transmitone or more instructions for conditioning whether a message is sent uponwhether a temperature exceeds a threshold. 103-104. (canceled)
 105. Thearticle of manufacture of claim 99 in which a portion of the one or morephysical media comprises: one or more signal-bearing media configured totransmit one or more instructions for causing the wireless signaltransmission circuitry in situ to initiate the wireless transmissiondetectable by the ex situ device in response to the material-selectivein situ detection of the biological material. 106-114. (canceled) 115.An article of manufacture comprising: one or more physical media bearinga device-detectable output indicating an occurrence of obtainingcircuitry for generating a device-detectable wireless transmission; andcausing the wireless signal transmission circuitry in situ to initiate awireless transmission detectable by an ex situ device in response to amaterial-selective in situ detection of a biological material. 116.(canceled)
 117. The article of manufacture of claim 115 in which aportion of the one or more physical media comprises: one or morephysical media bearing a device-detectable output indicating anoccurrence of conditioning a regimen compliance determination upon afirst compliance-positive indication and upon a secondcompliance-positive indication, the first compliance-positive indicationbeing the ex situ device detecting the wireless transmission. 118-120.(canceled)
 121. The article of manufacture of claim 115 in which aportion of the one or more physical media comprises: one or morephysical media bearing a device-detectable output indicating anoccurrence of distilling historical data indicative of orcontraindicative of a health status transition apparently relating to aninfection in an individual, the health status transition apparentlyrelating to the infection in the individual being at least one of ahealth status improvement or a health status deterioration.
 122. Thearticle of manufacture of claim 115 in which a portion of the one ormore physical media comprises: one or more physical media bearing adevice-detectable output indicating an occurrence of distillinghistorical data indicative of or contraindicative of a health statustransition apparently relating to cardiovascular disease in anindividual, the health status transition apparently relating tocardiovascular disease in the individual being at least one of a healthstatus improvement or a health status deterioration. 123-129. (canceled)